Joanna James
As one of the most sacred cultural festivals in China, the Mid-Autumn Festival can rightly be described as the Asian version of Thanksgiving. With a focus on filial piety and family connection, here are some of the most common traditions followed by the Chinese during this festival period.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is centred around family reunions and enjoying quality time together, which is why most locals will head to their hometowns in the village to celebrate the event with loved ones. Having dinner together is one of the main features of the festival as, in the past, huge spreads of traditional food were prepared at home by mothers and grandmothers and consumed by all the relatives coming together during this special time of year. Nowadays, local families find it more convenient to head to a favourite restaurant to enjoy a meal together and tourists will find that most of the top restaurants will have advanced reservations for Mid-Autumn Festival night.
If there's one food item that serves as the culinary representative of the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is surely the humble moon cake. This delicious Chinese pastry is not only prepared in a myriad of flavours but also consumed at all hours of the day as family reunions take place all across the country. The moon cake has long symbolised family love so most locals will buy moon cakes that can be divided into the exact number of family members in their brood.
Observing the movement of the moon is another custom that most families follow during this auspicious time of year. Many a Chinese poet has penned their thoughts on the significance of moon gazing during the Mid-Autumn Festival as the moon is often associated with homesickness in the local cannon. Most Chinese residents gaze up at the moon when longing to be back in their homeland or hometown; so, after a family dinner, most locals will head outside to gaze out at the moon and have conversations about their daily lives and plans.
Although it is rarely practised nowadays, this fast disappearing tradition is one of the key elements of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Those who celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival night in decades past would place candles, moon cakes, incense, and fruit on a table outdoors that's facing the moon. These offerings are thus placed to pay homage to the moon although those in more urban areas are known to head to a park or public square to perform this ritual.
As in any Chinese festival, making plant, animal, and flower-shaped lanterns is another ritual associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Events and Festivals Blog and other web portals that document seasonal events and festivals will feature articles on the many vibrant lanterns that adorn cities and villages during this time of year. Called Kongming lanterns, children also like to write various wishes on the lanterns before they are released to the breeze.
Gift giving is a time-honoured tradition all locals look forward to during the festival. Most gifts are not personal items but are usually made up of fruits and various foods and delicacies.
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