There is much more to this festival than feasting on mooncakes—from its origins to time-honoured traditions, here’s everything you need to know about the age-old event
Also known as Mooncake Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional celebration that falls on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar. On this day, the moon is also the fullest and brightest. This year, the festival will take place on September 29.
This yearly affair was first celebrated over 3,000 years ago and has gradually developed and evolved with time.
While it is believed that the festival first appeared during the Shang Dynasty, it only gained popularity during the early Tang Dynasty. As the festival falls in the middle of the Autumn harvest, it was a time when emperors and communities would worship the moon, praising it for providing them with bountiful harvests. Today, the annual festival sees loved ones gathering together to revel in festivities such as playing with lanterns, moon gazing and indulging in mooncakes.
Although we are no strangers to this annual festival, not many of us know about its history and traditions.
Read more: Mid-Autumn Festival 2023: The best mooncakes in Singapore to sweeten your festivities
The legend of Chang’e
The central legend associated with the festival surrounds Chinese moon goddess Chang’e and her husband Hou Yi. The tale is said to have originated in from the Tang Dynasty, where Hou Yi is an archer who shot down nine out of 10 suns, saving the earth from scorching to death. As a reward, the gods gave him a gift of the elixir of immortality. Stealing the elixir from her husband, Chang’e drank the potion which led her to fly upwards to reside on the moon. In memory of her, Hou Yi would hold a feast when the moon is at its fullest, hoping to get a glimpse of her shadow.
