Mid-Autumn Festival

Friday, September 29, 2023

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, which usually falls in September or October.

This is a time to slow down, relax, and enjoy the company of family and friends. It is a time to give thanks for the harvest and to celebrate the blessings of the past year. Mooncakes, round pastries filled with sweet or savory ingredients, are presented as gifts to relatives and friends, and they symbolize the full moon and the reunion of loved ones. Hanging and lighting lanterns, moon gazing, playing games, and writing riddles are some of the many activities during this festival.

The custom of the Mid-Autumn Festival is believed to have originated in China over 3,000 years ago. To celebrate the end of the autumn harvest, and to thank the gods for a bountiful crop. The full moon is seen as a symbol of prosperity and good luck.

For more information about Mid-Autumn Festival read Exploring Taiwan’s Mid-Autumn Festival: A Fusion of Lights, Flavors, and Tradition