With the Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner, we share some interesting history about the celebration
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival or Moon festival, is an important traditional Chinese celebration. It is referred to asis Jūng-chāu Jit (中秋節) in Cantonese and Zhōngqiū Jié (中秋节) in Mandarin.
Enjoy sharing the wonderful Mid-Autumn holiday with your family on 17 September 2024.
Why do we celebrate mid-Autumn festival?
The festival dates back thousands of years, with its origins rooted in the worship of the moon for bountiful harvests. Ancient Chinese emperors would pay homage to the moon during the autumn full moon, a time to celebrate the abundant crops and bring people together. The tradition of celebrating the harvest during the autumn full moon can be traced back to the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BCE). However, it gained widespread popularity as a festival during the early Tang dynasty (618–907 CE). Legend has it that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang started formal celebrations in his palace after exploring the Moon Palace. By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Mid-Autumn Festival had become one of the main folk festivals in China.
Moon worship has always been an integral part of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The ancient Chinese believed that the moon and water were associated with rejuvenation. The festival serves as a time for families and friends to come together, express appreciation, give thanks, and admire the full moon. In some ways, it bears similarities to the Thanksgiving traditions in North America, where families and communities gather to celebrate the harvest season.
When do we celebrate mid-Autumn festival?
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar, which usually falls in mid-September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. This date is chosen because it coincides with the full moon, symbolising abundance and unity. This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival will be celebrated on September 29th 2023.
Myths and legends of mid-Autumn festival
There are several myths and legends associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. One popular tale involves an archer named Hou Yi, who shot down nine of the ten suns to save the crops. As a reward for his heroism, he was granted a potion of immortality. However, when his apprentice tried to steal the potion, Hou Yi’s wife, Chang’e, consumed it to prevent its theft. As a result, she became immortal and ascended to the moon. Hou Yi, longing to reunite with his wife, started a tradition of holding a special feast during the fullest moon of the year. People joined in the festival to show their support for Hou Yi and prayed to the moon for a bountiful harvest each year.
Mid-Autumn traditions
Mooncakes, lanterns and gifts
Mooncakes and lanterns are iconic symbols of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mooncakes are rich pastries traditionally filled with sweet-bean, salted egg yolk, meat, or lotus-seed paste. They are often given as gifts and shared among friends and family during the festival. Historically they were used to pass secret messages (by putting a slip inside the mooncakes or printed on the outside of the cake) Lanterns, carried by both kids and adults, symbolise the illumination of one’s path to prosperity and good fortune. Riddles are sometimes written on lanterns, and people enjoy guessing the answers.
Families often head to beaches such as Repulse Bay and Deepwater Bay or to open spaces with lanterns to enjoy the moonlight. This year this would take place on 29th September.
Mooncakes, tea, wine and fruit are often given as gifts among families and friends during the Mid-Autumn festival time. Here’s our guide on where you can buy some amazing mooncakes.
Also, an eco-friendly way to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival is to make your own lanterns! Check out our easy-to-follow guide.
The festival is celebrated with many other cultural customs, such as burning incense in respect to deities and the performance of dragon and lion dances, which is mainly practiced in southern China.
The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Legend
There’s a legend that in the 1880s, the residents of Tai Hang Village warded off a typhoon and a plague on the eve of the Mid-Autumn festival with a fire dance that lasted three days and three nights. The fire dragon was used in the parade and was made of straw and joss sticks (incense) which were set alight at night. Today it continues to be an impressive tradition during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong.
This event is unique to Hong Kong. A 67-metre fire dragon winds through the streets of Tai Hang – just as it did almost 150 years ago – with over 300 performers, 70,000 incense sticks and lots of firecrackers. This year the popular event is held 16 – 18 September, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm (or until 11:30pm on the 17 September).
Location: Wun Sha Street and Tung Lo Wan Road, Tai Hang, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island. The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance will move to Victoria Park from 10:30pm on 17 September
Go Celebrate!
We hope you enjoyed learning about the history of Mid-Autumn Festival and have developed a deeper appreciation for it. However you celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with your family, have fun and be grateful for this time we get to share. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone!
Mid-Autumn Festival Events 2024*
*Keep an eye on these events and always check ahead just in case there are changes.
The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance Parade
This event is unique to Hong Kong. A 67-metre fire dragon will wind through the streets of Tai Hang – just as it did almost 150 years ago – with over 300 performers, 10,000 incense sticks and lots of firecrackers. You’ll get the best view from Mun Sha Street.
Date and time: 16 – 18 September, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm (or until 11:30pm on the 17 September).
Lee Tung Avenue’s “Moon Fest Lumiere” & LED Fire Dragon Fiesta
Head to Lee Tung Avenue for “Moon Fest Lumiere” featuring over 800 traditional Chinese lanterns (on display throughout September and until 15 October) and additional fish-shaped lanterns. Don’t miss the LED Fire Dragon Fiesta scheduled for 17 September.
Date: 17 September
Urban Mid-Autumn Festival at Victoria Park
Running 12-18 September, this amazing event, which this year is themed “Charm in the Air: Chinese Style, Hong Kong Flair” features a beautiful lantern display “Timeless Chinese Brocades” and a full cultural programme including a Huafu Show, Mascots catwalk show, and a broadcast of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance Parade.
Mid-Autumn Festival Drone Show
Details have not yet been released but the show is expexted to last approximately 10 minutes and feature thousands of drones.
Date and time: 17 September, 8:00pm (TBC)
Location: TBC
Ngong Ping Mid Autumn Lantern Festival
This Mid- Autumn Festival, Ngong Ping 360 has collaborated with the Heung Charity Foundation and presents the “Wonderful Sharing@Ngong Ping 360” Mid-Autumn Festival Art Project” featuing a giant installation designed by Eric Kot. The installation incorporates Kot’s character “Heroic Kogiant”.
Set Sail on aqualuna
Embark on a magical voyage beneath the Moon and Stars aboard aqualuna. Experience the beauty of the night sky as you sail on the iconic red-sailed aqualuna, capturing the sight of the moon in all its glory. On the 21 September, the Aqua Luna will host a Salon event.
Date: 21 September
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