Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节) in Chinese, also known as the Mooncake Festival or Moon Festival, is one of China’s biggest holidays. The festival is a joyous celebration with family reunions, mooncakes, parades, and lanterns.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a significant traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. In 2024, the festival is expected to fall on September 29th. During this time, people in China and other parts of the world with significant Chinese populations gather with family and friends to admire the full moon, eat traditional mooncakes, and give thanks for the harvest. The festival is also often associated with the legend of Chang’e, the goddess of the moon, and is typically celebrated with parades, lantern displays, and other cultural activities.
Chinese Moon Festival
The day is also known as the Moon Festival, as at that time of the year the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest and Chinese always worship the moon and appreciate the full moon on that day.
Time for Family Reunion
In Chinese culture, full moon symbolizes reunion, so that they reunite with their families for celebrations. They worship the moon together, appreciate the moon together, enjoy reunion dinner and even share one mooncake to celebrate the reunion.
How We Celebrate
The Mid Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. The full moon is considered a symbol of reunion, and is shining its brightest during this time.
Don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in mooncakes, shaped round like the full moon which signifies reunion. You can find a variety of flavours, from classic lotus seed paste with egg yolk to innovative snowskin filled with champagne truffle. Join moon-viewing parties where families and friends gather, sipping tea and savoring mooncakes. Children delight in carrying lanterns, from traditional paper ones with wax candles to modern, battery-operated versions.