Mid-autumn Festival – History, Activities, and Traditions

In Chinese culture and tradition, the Mid-Autumn Festival is considered the second-most important festival, only after the Chinese New Year or as it’s also called the Spring Festival.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is always celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which was believed to be the day when the moon was the most visible.

The Chinese calendar has only 354 days instead of the 365 days we have in our Gregorian calendar. Due to this difference in the number of days, the Mid-Autumn Festival’s dates vary around September or October, but it always happens in the middle of the autumn season in China (hence the name).

Upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival Dates (2026–2030)

History and Legend Behind the Mid-Autumn Festival

Before we further discuss how the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated, let us first learn about the history and legend behind it.

Originally, the Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated to worship the moon. Back during the Zhou Dynasty (1045-221 BC), moon worshiping ritual was practiced to pray for abundant harvests. However, it was only during the Warring States Era (475-221 BC) that this Festival was called “Mid-Autumn” because it was celebrated midway during the autumn season.

This tradition continued until the time of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). During this era, moon worshiping was even more emphasized, and everyone from the Emperor himself, the nobles, and even the peasants throw parties during the Mid-Autumn Festival. It was during this time that the ancient Chinese started incorporating songs and dances as parts of the moon worshiping ritual.

During the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 AD), the moon worshiping practice truly evolved into a festival. It was established that the Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated every the 15th day of the 8th month, and the tradition holds until today.

The popularity of this festival peaked during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912 AD). Various activities are incorporated into the festival from songs and dances, the famous Dragon Dance (or Lion Dance), and releasing lanterns into the sky, as also practiced today.

There are various myths and legends behind the Mid-Autumn Festival, but the most popular one is one of a hero named Hou Yi.

According to the legend, back then there were 10 suns in the sky, and these suns scorched the Earth so that the soils are dry and infertile. Humans back then can’t grow anything, so people have been living in poverty and famine.

It was told that a hero named Hou Yi destroyed 9 of the 10 suns with his arrows, bringing abundance and rain into the land.

The Empress of Heaven, valuing Hou Yi’s heroism, presented Hou Yi with the elixir of immortality.

Hou Yi had a beautiful wife named Chang E, and a pupil named Feng Meng. Feng Meng was told to be a greedy man, and, envying Hou Yi’s elixir of immortality, sought for the best chance to steal it.

One day when Hou Yi was hunting, Feng Meng finally attempted to steal the elixir.

However, during the attempt, Chang E caught Feng Meng in the act and knowing that she wouldn’t be able to beat Feng Meng in a fight, hastily drank the elixir.

Chang E, now immortal, flew to the moon.

Once back home, Hou Yi learned of what happened and grown saddened by it. It was said that every the 15th day of the 8th month when the moon was the biggest, Hou Yi always prepared a feast, hoping that he can catch a glimpse of Chang E on the moon.

Until today, people still withhold the tradition of offering incense, food, fruits, and drinks under the full moon based on this legend.

Activities and Traditions During the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival involves many traditions that are deeply rooted in Chinese culture. Even today, this festival isn’t only celebrated in China, but also by many people of Chinese descent that are spread all around the world.

While the Mid-Autumn festival is celebrated with many different activities, there are two most important ones:

Mooncake

The mooncake is the most important aspect of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Without presenting and eating mooncakes, simply put, the Mid-Autumn Festival won’t be complete.

The mooncake itself has a long history that can be traced back until the times of the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368 AD). The Yuan Dynasty was built by the Mongol invaders. The Chinese Han people rebelled against the Mongols to win back China, and it was believed that the Han people communicated secretly by hiding letters inside mooncakes.

According to the legend, the message of the letters coordinated an attack on the 15th day of the 8th month, and this is why the mooncake is celebrated as a remembrance of the successful rebellion of the Han People to topple the Yuan Dynasty.

The mooncake is a round-shaped pastry made of flour, oil, and sugar. Typically the mooncake has fillings made of either red-bean paste or lotus paste, but other fillings like salted egg yolk and preserved fruit are also common. It is typically between 10 cm (4 in) in diameter and 3-4 cm (114-112 in) in thickness.

The mooncakes are believed to symbolize the full moon, and the full moon itself in the Chinese tradition is believed to symbolize completeness and togetherness. Thus, many people believe that eating mooncakes together during the Mid-Autumn Festival will bring harmony and togetherness to the family.

Regional Varieties and Modern Innovations of Mooncakes

While the traditional Cantonese-style mooncake (with its thin skin, lotus paste, and salted egg yolk) is the most globally recognized, China boasts several distinct regional varieties that offer completely different textures and flavors:

• Suzhou-style Mooncakes: Originating from the Jiangsu province, these are famous for their flaky, multi-layered pastry crust. Unlike the dense Cantonese version, Suzhou mooncakes can be either sweet (filled with lotus or red bean) or savory (filled with minced pork and savory spices).
• Beijing-style Mooncakes: These are known for their intricate, beautiful designs on the crust. The pastry is slightly thicker and more decorative, often featuring a perfect ratio of skin to filling, and are heavily influenced by imperial court recipes.
• Snow Skin Mooncakes (Bing Pi Yue Bing): A modern, non-baked innovation that has taken the festival by storm. Made with glutinous rice (giving them a mochi-like texture), these mooncakes are served chilled. They come in vibrant, natural colors derived from matcha, purple yam, or mango, and are often filled with contemporary flavors like chocolate, ice cream, or even champagne.

Take a look at these delicious Mooncakes.– Aff.link

The Lantern Parade

Another important tradition of the Moon-Autumn Festival is the Lantern Parade. Similar to mooncakes, the Mid-Autumn Festival won’t be complete without the tradition of releasing lanterns into the sky.

Traditionally the lanterns are made of red paper, with a candle placed in the middle. However, in this modern age, lanterns are made from various materials, even with plastics and LED lights. Also, now the lanterns come in various attractive shapes, so both children and adults can find the lantern most attractive for them whether they prefer a traditional-shaped lantern or modern ones with various designs. However, for safety reasons, lanterns with candles (which are prone to fire hazards), are relatively rare nowadays.

In Chinese culture, the lantern is a symbol of a happy reunion. The lantern is round-shaped, and “round” in Mandarin Chinese has a similar pronunciation with “reunion”.

A very popular tradition is to release the lantern together during the night to the sky. Typically the wishes are written and tied to the lantern, and they release the lanterns to the sky, hoping the lanterns will fly as far and high as possible to carry their wish to the gods.

Typically around 10 days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, we will find lanterns everywhere. Many people in Guangdong and Hong Kong make traditional lanterns with bamboo strips, and on the festival night, before the lanterns are released, the lanterns are tied to the bamboo poles and hung in the heights of the house. During this time, we can also easily find lanterns in various markets.

Take a look at these awesome Chinese Lanterns.- Aff.link

The Art of Tea Pairing

Eating mooncakes is traditionally accompanied by drinking Chinese tea. Because mooncakes are dense, rich, and sweet, tea is the perfect complement to cut through the heaviness, cleanse the palate, and aid digestion. The art of pairing is quite specific:

• Green Tea (like Jasmine or Mint): Pairs best with light, sweet, or fruity “snow skin” mooncakes. The astringency of green tea balances the delicate sweetness without overpowering it.
• Oolong Tea: A versatile, semi-oxidized tea that pairs wonderfully with semi-rich or savory mooncakes, providing a fragrant, floral aroma.
• Pu’er or Chrysanthemum Tea: Highly recommended for heavy, rich mooncakes like double-yolk lotus paste. The robust, earthy flavors of Pu’er or the light, floral notes of Chrysanthemum help wash away the oily texture of the rich fillings.

Other Enduring Traditions: Riddles, Osmanthus, and Tides

Beyond mooncakes and lanterns, several other beautiful traditions are deeply woven into the fabric of the festival:

• Guessing Lantern Riddles (Cai Deng Mi): While releasing lanterns is popular, another beloved tradition involves writing riddles on the surface of the lanterns. Passersby, friends, and children try to solve them. Getting the right answer is said to bring good luck, and organizers often award small prizes to those who guess correctly.
• Osmanthus Wine and Cakes: The Mid-Autumn Festival coincides with the blooming of sweet osmanthus flowers. Families often drink sweet osmanthus wine (Gui Hua Jiu) and eat osmanthus-flavored cakes. In Chinese culture, the osmanthus flower symbolizes family sweetness, longevity, and prosperity.
• Watching the Tidal Bore: In the Hangzhou region, a major tradition is watching the massive tidal bore of the Qiantang River. The tide reaches its most spectacular and dangerous peak around the Mid-Autumn Festival, drawing massive crowds who gather to watch the roaring, wall-like waves.

Traditional Activities & Their Meanings

How Mid-Autumn Festival Is Celebrated All Around the World

The Mid-Autumn Festival is not only celebrated in China, but all over the world, and mooncakes are now also very popular in various Asian countries.

Here are some variations of the Mid-Autumn Festival in various countries.

Japan

In Japan, the Mid-Autumn Festival is called Tsukimi, and similar to the Chinese version, the festival is held to worship the moon gods and goddesses. However, rather than eating mooncakes, the Japanese eat rice cakes known as dango and mochi.

Korea

The Mid-Autumn Festival is called Chuseok in Korea and is also celebrated to wish for abundance in harvests and fertile farms. In Korea, it is also common to visit the tombs of their parents and ancestors during the festival.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, the festival is called Tet Trung Thu, or also called Children’s Festival. As the name suggests, in Vietnam this festival is more focused on children, but the Vietnamese also celebrate this festival as a ritual for the moon goddess and earth god.

In this festival, children receive gifts and toys, while the parents enjoy eating the mooncakes with the family. The children also receive goldfish-shaped lanterns, which symbolize the parents’ prayer for success.

Thailand

In Thailand, the festival is celebrated very similarly to how the Chinese celebrated it, but the legend behind the festival differs.

In Thailand, it is believed that the 15th day of the 8th month is the day when the Eight Immortals visit Earth to eat mooncakes and peach-shaped cakes to celebrate the birthday of goddess Guanyin.

In Thailand, it’s common to find mooncakes with Durian fillings, which shows how the mooncakes also have many different variations all around the world.

Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines

People of Chinese descent in these countries also celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, and mainly the activities are very similar to that of China. Mooncakes and lanterns remain the emphasis of this festival, but there are also slight variations.

For example, in Taiwan, it’s common to also prepare outdoor barbecue during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and they’ll enjoy the barbecue feast together with friends and family under the full moon.

In Philipines, various gambling activities between family members (incorporating a small amount of money) are also common as entertainment and as a bonding activity between family members.

Regional Variations Comparison Table

Celebrations in the Western World

In countries with significant Chinese diaspora populations, such as the United States, the UK, Canada, and Australia, the festival has evolved into a major cultural showcase in major metropolitan cities.

• Chinatown Festivities: Cities like San Francisco, London, and Sydney host massive “Autumn Moon Festivals” in their Chinatowns. These events feature elaborate street parades, traditional Chinese opera, martial arts demonstrations, and massive night markets.
• Community and Political Engagement: In North America, the festival has become an important event for community bonding. It is common to see local bakeries in Chinatowns offering elaborate window displays of mooncakes. Furthermore, local politicians and civic leaders frequently participate in the festivities, hosting mooncake banquets to engage with and celebrate the Asian community’s contributions to the country.

End Words

The Mid-Autumn Festival is much more than just a date on the lunar calendar or an occasion to enjoy delicious pastries. It is a profound celebration of harmony, gratitude, and family reunion that has beautifully transcended its ancient agricultural roots. From the enduring myth of Hou Yi and Chang E to the historical triumphs of the Han people, the festival carries the rich weight of thousands of years of mythology and history.

Today, as paper and LED lanterns light up the skies from the streets of Beijing to the bustling Chinatowns of San Francisco, and as mooncakes evolve to include modern flavors and regional twists, the core message of the festival remains unchanged. Whether it is through sharing a warm cup of Pu’er tea, solving a clever lantern riddle, or gathering for a festive barbecue under the night sky, the Mid-Autumn Festival adapts to the modern world while keeping its cultural soul perfectly intact.

Ultimately, the Mid-Autumn Festival serves as a gentle reminder that no matter how far apart our loved ones may be, we all look up at the same bright, full moon. It is a beautiful testament to the enduring power of tradition, offering a meaningful moment of pause in our busy lives to appreciate our families, honor our heritage, and celebrate the completeness of togetherness.

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