The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching quickly as it is on the 4th of October (August 15th of the Chinese lunar calendar). For the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon's circle is a metaphor of people's reunion. The Dragon Boat Festival, the Spring Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, and the Mid-Autumn Festival are known as the four biggest traditional festivals in China.

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The Mid-Autumn Festival began in the early Tang dynasty and prevailed in the Song dynasty. During the period of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Mid-Autumn Festival was more popular, especially because you get to have an amazing sight of the full moon. Since then, the Mid-Autumn Festival has become one of the major festivals in China, which ranked only second to the New Festival. This is also China's second major traditional festival after the Spring Festival. Influenced by Chinese culture, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also a traditional festival in some countries in East Asia and Southeast Asia, especially for overseas Chinese people.

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There are many customs on the Mid-Autumn festival. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon is full and bright, so the main activities are related to the “moon”. Thus, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called “The Moon Festival” and “Moonset”. Not only that, the full moon symbolizes family reunion and happiness, so it is also known as the “Reunion Festival” for reuniting with their relatives and homes. At the same time, in the history of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is more than one thousand years, there were many celebration activities such as the “Burning Dou Incense”, “Moon Walking”, “Playing Sky Lanterns”, “Mid-Autumn Trees”, “Igniting Tower Lights”, “Fire Dragon Dance”, etc. These activities such as enjoying the sight of the full moon, eating moon cakes, and having a reunion meal has been handed down to today, and it became a rich, colorful and precious cultural heritage.

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During the Mid-Autumn Festival, eating moon cakes and enjoying the full moon are the most essential customs. On that day, the family will try their best to go home to have a family reunion dinner with their parents and children. Then they will enjoy the biggest, most round, and brightest moon in a year. At the same time, the whole family will sit together and share mooncakes. The moon cake is one of the famous Chinese traditional cakes, and it only is presents for Mid-Autumn Festival. There are many seeds of plant material in the moon cake: walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds, melon seeds, hawthorn, lotus seed, red bean, jujube paste, etc. These are good for people’s health. In recent years, people have developed trendier tastes, such as beef, dried meat floss, which are very popular. Moon cakes are also an important gift for friends to expression and connection during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

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Being that the Mid-Autumn Festival is tomorrow, no matter what your culture is, spend some quality time with your family. Have a nice meal together and be thankful for your loved ones and the time that you get to share with them.