Language/Mandarin-chinese/Culture/Mid-Autumn-Festival-and-Mooncakes

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Mandarin Chinese Culture → Chinese Festivals and Traditions → Mid-Autumn Festival and Mooncakes

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one the most important traditional festivals in China, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. This usually falls in mid to late September in the Gregorian calendar. During the festival, people usually gather with their families to admire the full moon, eat mooncakes, and share stories about the festival's origins and traditions. In this lesson, you'll learn more about the Mid-Autumn Festival and the delicious mooncakes.

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Double Ninth Festival and Chongyang Cake & Chinese New Year.

Origins and Traditions

The Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated for over 3,000 years, originating from the custom of worshiping the moon in ancient times. The festival's significance derives from several popular Chinese legends, including one about the goddess Chang Er, who lived on the moon. The legend goes that Chang Er used to live on Earth with her husband, Hou Yi, who was a skilled archer. One day, when there were ten suns in the sky, Hou Yi shot down nine of them, giving life back to Earth. As a reward, he was given an immortality pill, but he didn't take it immediately. His wife, Chang Er, accidentally consumed it instead and ascended to the moon, where she became the goddess of the moon.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to reunite with family and friends, to express gratitude, to pray for good fortune, and to celebrate the fall harvest. The festival is full of symbolism: the round shape of mooncakes represents completeness and unity, while the full moon is a symbol of reunion and harmony.

Mooncakes

Mooncakes are a traditional pastry that is consumed during the Mid-Autumn Festival. They are a type of small, dense cake, with a sweet or savory filling that is usually made from lotus paste, red bean paste, or salted egg yolk. Some modern varieties include fruit, nuts, and even chocolate. Mooncakes usually have intricate designs and are stamped with Chinese characters that symbolize good luck or prosperity.

There are many legends surrounding the origins of the mooncake. One popular story involves the overthrow of Mongol rule during the Yuan Dynasty. Legend has it that Ming revolutionaries planned to overthrow the ruling Mongols by distributing mooncakes that contained hidden messages. The messages instructed the people to revolt on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, when mooncakes would be aplenty. The rebels were successful in overthrowing the Mongols, and the tradition of eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival continues to this day.

Vocabulary

Here are some useful vocabulary words to help you learn more about the Mid-Autumn Festival and mooncakes:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English
中秋节	Zhōngqiūjié	Mid-Autumn Festival
月饼	Yuèbǐng	Mooncake
嫦娥	Cháng'é	Chang Er
后羿	Hòuyì	Hou Yi
蛋黄	Dànhuáng	Egg Yolk

Conclusion

The Mid-Autumn Festival is an important cultural celebration in China, and the delicious mooncakes that are enjoyed during the festival are a must-try for anyone interested in Chinese cuisine. By understanding the history and traditions of the festival, you can gain a deeper appreciation for China's rich cultural heritage.

Sources

Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: China's Great Wall & China's Four Great Ancient Capitals.

Table of Contents - Mandarin Chinese Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Pinyin and Tones

Greetings and Basic Expressions

Sentence Structure and Word Order

Daily Life and Survival Expressions

Chinese Festivals and Traditions

Verbs and Verb Usage

Hobbies, Sports and Activities

China's Geography and Landmarks

Nouns and Pronouns

Professions and Personality Traits

Chinese Traditional Arts and Crafts

Comparative and Superlative

Cities, Countries and Tourist Destinations

Modern China and Current Events

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