Zhong Qiu Jie
- What
- Zhong Qiu Jie
- When
- 9/21/2021
- Where
- Cultural
Zhong qiu jie is a traditional Chinese festival, and second largest of China's traditional festivals after the Spring Festival. The 15th day of the eighth lunar month is called "Mid-Autumn", and the night "Night of the Moon". Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Moon Festival, takes place on that day when the moon is supposedly at its fullest and roundest.
The full moon for Chinese people represents family reunion. At the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is customary for members of the family to taste mooncakes together and pray for happiness, wealth, and for a good harvest.
The most widespread version of the story of the Mid-Autumn Festival tells of a time when 10 suns were present in the ancient sky. All of the heat and sunlight made it impossible for crops to grow and hard for people to live so a powerful man named Houyi climbed to the top of Kunlun Mountain and turned off 9 of the suns. Houyi was so loved and respected by the people he soon married his young beautiful wife named Chang’e. The queen of heaven rewarded an elixir to them granting eternal life if they share it but should only one drink it they will ascend and become immortal. The jealous and wicked Peng Meng tried to steal the elixir for himself, fearing the outcome of having a bad man get the elixir, Chang’e drank all of it and began to become one with the moon.
Desperately missing his wife, the tradition of leaving Chang’e’s favorite food in the yard when the moon is its closest to the earth has become the way to bring in peace and health for the festival.