What is the historical origin of Mid-Autumn Festival?
The Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the worship of the moon in ancient times and has a long history. The word "Mid-Autumn Festival" was first recorded in Zhou Li. In the ancient calendar of China, the15th day of the eighth lunar month happened to be the autumn of a year, and it was in the middle of August, so it was called "Mid-Autumn Festival".
In addition, in the four seasons of a year, each season is divided into three parts: Meng, Zhong and Ji, so the second month of autumn is called Zhong Qiu. It was not until the early years of the Tang Dynasty that the Mid-Autumn Festival became a fixed festival. Folk myths and legends about "Wugang cutting Guangxi and the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon" are still circulating today.
Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Moon Festival, Moonlight Birthday, Moon Festival, Autumn Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Moon Festival, Moon Festival and Reunion Festival, is a traditional folk festival in China. The Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the worship of celestial phenomena and evolved from the worship of the autumn moon in ancient times.
At first, the festival of "Sacrificing the Moon" was held on the "autumnal equinox" of the 24 solar terms in the Ganzhi calendar, and later it was moved to August 15 in the summer calendar (lunar calendar). In some places, the Mid-Autumn Festival is set on August 16 in the summer calendar.
Since ancient times, Mid-Autumn Festival has had folk customs such as offering sacrifices to the moon, enjoying the moon, eating moon cakes, playing with lanterns, enjoying osmanthus and drinking osmanthus wine.
The source of eating moon cakes in Mid-Autumn Festival
It is said that eating moon cakes in the Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, ordered his men to hide the note with the words "August 15 Uprising" in the cake, and then sent people to the uprising troops in various places to inform them to respond to the uprising on the evening of August 15. The insurgents responded together, and the insurgents, like a single spark, could start a prairie fire and overthrow the Yuan Dynasty. So Zhu Yuanzhang decided to eat moon cakes every Mid-Autumn Festival. In this way, Mid-Autumn Festival and moon cakes have become an indelible part of China people's blood.