Traditional foods for a Chinese Mid-Autumn feast are red - for good luck. In Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, it’s sometimes referred to as the Lantern Festival, (not to be confused with a similar celebration during the Chinese New Year), but whatever name it goes by, the centuries-old festival remains a beloved annual ritual celebrating an abundance of food and family. The festival dates back to the Tang dynasty in 618 A.D., and as with many celebrations in China there are ancient legends closely associated with it. It is also a romantic night for lovers, who sit holding hands on hilltops, riverbanks and park benches, captivated by the brightest moon of the year! During the Mid-Autumn Festival, children are delighted to stay up past midnight, parading multi-colored lanterns into the wee hours as families take to the streets to moon-gaze. Chinese people believe that on that day, the moon is the roundest and brightest signaling a time of completeness and abundance. The Harvest Moon or Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhong Qiu Jie) is a day of family reunions much like a Western Thanksgiving. The date in the Western calendar changes annually. In China and throughout many Asian countries people celebrate the Harvest Moon on the 15th day of the eighth month of their lunar calendar. Local people like to pick fresh osmanthus flowers for delicious food preparing. In Nanjing, the festival coincides with the blooming season of sweet-scented osmanthus flowers. In addition, various parts of the country and all ethnic minorities have different Mid-Autumn Festival customs. Generally speaking, eating moon cakes, enjoying the moon and lighting up lanterns are common traditions on the festival. It dates back thousands of years and the modern-day festive customs were gradually formed over the years. The festival is also a time to celebrate a good autumn harvest. The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival derived from the tradition of worshipping the Goddess of Moon. Those unable to get home to join the get-together miss their family even more on the festival. As such, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion.
The moon on the night of the 15th day of lunar August is believed to be fuller and brighter than in other months. It is the most important festival after the Chinese Lunar New Year.
The 15th day of every 8th lunar month is the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. The Legend of the Mooncake Festival: The Story of Chang-E
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