next month is the Mid Autumn Festival. Are you looking forward to it? Mid Autumn Festival is an annual day for family reunion. What's the date of this year's Mid Autumn Festival? What are the customs of Mid Autumn Festival? Let's have a look.
Q: what day is the Mid Autumn Festival in 2018?
A: the Mid Autumn Festival of 2018 is September 24, 2018, Monday, August 15, 2018 in the lunar calendar.
August 15 of the lunar calendar is the traditional Mid Autumn Festival. This is the mid autumn of a year, so it is called the Mid Autumn Festival. In Chinese lunar calendar, a year is divided into four seasons, and each season is divided into three parts: Meng, Zhong, and Ji. Therefore, mid autumn is also called mid autumn.
At the same time, because the moon on August 15 of the lunar calendar is more round and bright than the full moon in other months, it is also called "lunar evening" and "August Festival". This night, people look up to the sky like a jade plate of the bright moon, naturally looking forward to family reunion. The wanderer who is far away from home also takes this opportunity to express his yearning for his hometown and relatives. Therefore, the Mid Autumn Festival is also called "reunion festival".
In ancient times, people in our country had the custom of "autumn evening and moon". The moon in the evening means worshiping the moon god. In the Zhou Dynasty, every mid autumn night will be held to welcome the cold and sacrifice the moon. Set up a large incense table, and put on the moon cake, watermelon, apple, dates, plums, grapes and other sacrifices, of which moon cake and watermelon are absolutely indispensable.
Among them, watermelon should be cut into lotus shape. Under the moon, put the moon god in the direction of the moon. The red candle burns high. The whole family worships the moon in turn, and then the housewife cuts the reunion moon cake. The cutter shall calculate in advance how many people there are in the whole family. Those who are at home and those who are out of town shall be counted together. They shall not cut too much or too little. They shall be the same size.
It is said that the ugly women of the ancient Qi State had no salt. They worshipped the moon when they were young. When they grew up, they entered the palace with superior morality, but they were not favored. One year, on the 15th of August, the emperor saw her in the moonlight. He thought she was beautiful and outstanding. Later, he made her the queen. The Mid Autumn Festival came here to worship the moon. Chang'e in the middle of the moon is known for its beauty. Therefore, when a girl prays for the moon, she is willing to look like Chang'e and face the bright moon.
In Tang Dynasty, the Mid Autumn Festival is very popular. In the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty. On the 15th night of August, people in the city, rich and poor, old and young, should wear adult clothes, burn incense and worship the moon to say their wishes and pray for the blessing of the moon god. In the Southern Song Dynasty, people presented mooncakes to each other, taking the meaning of reunion. In some places, there are grass dragon dance, pagoda building and other activities.
Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the custom of Mid Autumn Festival has become more popular; in many places, special customs have been formed, such as burning joss sticks, tree Mid Autumn Festival, lighting tower lights, lighting sky lights, walking the moon, dancing fire dragon, etc. Today in the new century, the custom of playing under the moon is far from popular. However, feast and moon appreciation are still very popular. People ask about the moon with wine, celebrate a good life, or wish the health and happiness of their relatives in the distance, and share the beauty of the moon with their families.
There are many customs and different forms of Mid Autumn Festival, but they all rely on people's infinite love for life and yearning for a better life.