Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan ― Date, History, and Details
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Let's dive deeper into learning more about the history of Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan and why people celebrate or observe it.
History of Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. The festival is also known as the Moon Festival, because it celebrates the harvest moon, which is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox.
Traditionally, the Mid-Autumn Festival was a time for families to gather together and give thanks for the bountiful harvest. On the night of the festival, people would light lanterns and enjoy feasts of mooncakes and fruits. Today, the holiday is still celebrated with food and family, but lanterns and mooncakes have become the most iconic symbols of the festival.
Mooncakes are round or square pastries filled with lotus seed paste, bean paste, or fruit. They are often decorated with an imprint of the Chinese character for “longevity” or the moon. Lanterns come in all shapes and sizes, but they are typically made of paper and lit from within by a candle.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to celebrate the harvest, enjoy the company of loved ones, and admire the beauty of the full moon.