Customs around the Mid-Autumn Festival

The traditional Mid-Autumn Festival enjoys great popularity in China where it is second only to the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, and in some of its neighboring countries.

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Since ancient times, people have celebrated it by worshipping and admiring the glorious full moon, and enjoying osmanthus flowers and fermented-osmanthus wine. The Chinese believe that the full moon represents family reunions. Therefore, Mid-Autumn Festival is also a day for families to get together and for those far away from home to think of their loved ones.

The full moon illuminates the Qinhuai River and Confucius Temple in Nanjing during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Influenced by Chinese culture, certain other countries in East and Southeast Asia also celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. In 2006, the holiday was added to the list of China’s first batch of national intangible cultural heritages.