Mid-Autumn Festival

Event details

Description:: Celebrated in China and other east Asian countries, the Mid-Autumn Festival, is the second grandest festival in China after the Chinese New Year.
Date:: Tuesday, 21 September 2021
Time: 9:00AM — 4:00PM
Location:
Contact:: Cultural Heritage Coordinator
Phone:: 9217 2174
Cost:

Highlights

With COVID-19 restrictions we are unable to celebrate Mid-Autumn in person like usual, but we're still excited to take time with our household members to recognise this special day.

Celebrated in China and other east Asian countries, the Mid-Autumn Festival, is the second grandest festival in China after the Chinese New Year. The day is also known as the Moon Festival, the Harvest Moon Festival and the Mooncake Festival. Associated with the harvest and moon worship, it is celebrated at the time of year the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest.

Traditionally, the festival falls on the 15^th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, which in 2021 falls on September 21.

The Mid-Autumn festival began over 3000 years ago, whereby Ancient Chinese emperors in the Shang Dynasty worshiped the moon in Autumn to thank it for the harvest. After that, people began to observe the Moon Festival in celebration of their hard work and harvest. Nowadays, people mainly commemorate the Moon Festival as a time for family reunions. People have long believed that worshiping the moon and eating together around a round table will bring them good luck and happiness.

The festival celebrates three closely connected fundamental concepts:

Gathering: family and friends coming together, and the gathering and harvesting of crops
Thanksgiving: to give thanks for the harvest, and for harmonious unions
Praying: asking for babies, a spouse, longevity, beauty or for a good future

Traditionally, people set a table with mooncakes, fruit, candles, incense and other offerings towards the moon, make their wishes and kowtow to the moon. Afterwards, the families will share the offerings.