Mid-Autumn Festival: Celebration and Our Holiday Schedule
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is one of the most significant traditional holidays in China. Celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar (usually in late September or early October), it marks the time when the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest.
History and Legend
The festival dates back over 3,000 years and is deeply connected with moon worship in ancient China. One of the most well-known legends associated with the festival is the story of Chang’e, the moon goddess. According to the tale, Chang’e drank an elixir of immortality and floated to the moon, where she resides. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people offer mooncakes and other items to honor her and appreciate the moon's beauty.
Customs and Traditions
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions and thanksgiving. Families gather to enjoy festive meals, admire the full moon, and share mooncakes—round pastries that symbolize unity and completeness. Mooncakes come in a variety of flavors, including lotus seed paste, red bean, and even modern fillings like chocolate.
Lantern displays and moon gazing are also popular activities during the festival. Children often carry lanterns shaped like rabbits, reflecting the connection to another myth, the Jade Rabbit, who is said to live on the moon and help Chang’e.
Cultural Significance
The Mid-Autumn Festival has influenced Chinese literature, art, and folklore. Poems and stories about the moon, such as the legend of Chang'e, the moon goddess, have been passed down for centuries and continue to be central to Chinese cultural identity. The festival also embodies an appreciation for nature, with the moon symbolizing the passage of time, the changing of seasons, and the harmony between humanity and the cosmos.
Our Holiday Schedule
As part of our celebration of this important cultural event, Disea will observe the Mid-Autumn Festival with a two-day holiday. Please note that we will be closed from September 16 to September 17, 2024. We look forward to resuming business after the holiday and wish everyone a joyful Mid-Autumn Festival filled with happiness, unity, and prosperity!
