Meng Ting, Lian
English 2100T
09/24/2018
2nd Draft of Mid-Autumn Festival
My childhood was one of the most unforgettable times in my life. Since I was little, I lived with my family members. The moment I felt most happiness is when the whole family got together and celebrate Chinese festivals. In China, the four major traditional festival was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival, Spring Festival, and Ching Ming Festival. People maybe know more things about the spring festival in China, but I want to give more details about the Mid-Autumn Festival in China.
Every August 15th at night, me and my family sit together on our house’s balcony and watch the moonlight together. That day was called: Mid-Autumn Festival. I still remember that day our house just had a power outage, everything is dark but my heart is bright and warm because they all surround me and made me feel safe. We took out the red candle and light the candle to pray that next year we would still be together. I lay on the balcony floor, my grandmother brings a little table, above the table, there’s a lot of food on the top and obviously, the most important thing is the mooncake. We sit together and listen to the story about the Mid-Autumn Festival. It has been said that, at this time, the gods of the moon (called Chang E) will miss their loved ones and look forward to a reunion. Therefore, every August 15th, people watch the moon and the moon always seem like a big round circle. It means reunion. Listening to the story told by my parents, gradually, I fell asleep.
Nevertheless, throughout the history of the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was a long story to tell. Mid-Autumn Festival began in the early years of the Tang Dynasty and began popular in the Song Dynasty. During that time period, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not about celebrating the reunion of families but it was a festival about commemorating ancestor and this festival was only for emperor because emperor represents the son of god, when he commemorating ancestors, ancestors will protect him and his people. Later on, ancient nobles and ministers began to follow the emperor. Lastly, nobles and ministers passed this festival into ancient people’s life. However, when the festival passes into people’s life. It becomes a turning point of the festival, people treat Mid-Autumn Festivals as a festival that celebrates the harvest and expresses joy because they knew after celebrating the Mid- Autumn Festival, the fall season will come soon and fall season was the time for people to collect all their crops and fruits and each family will gather together to collect their own crops. Over the time passes, Mid – Autumn Festivals become a festival celebrating reunion and harvest.
Furthermore, there are many traditional activities in the Mid-Autumn Festival. Such as watching the moon or give the moon a salute and also people will prepare lots of the foods to worship the moon god; guess a riddle (one of the most popular activities people play); eating moon cake; drink Osmanthus wine; create a lantern and hang the lantern on the line, so when people pass every place and look up, it seems like all the stars shining on the sky etc. The traditional activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival were deeply loved by people and later became one of the four traditional festivals in China.
In most Chinese people’s minds, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival full of joy. It can make many people reunite on this day. It represents good wishes and hopes. Mid-Autumn Festival is not fully popularized in the world. I also hope to pass on this joy and let more people understand the culture of the Mid-Autumn Festival.