Moon Festival. Chinese holidays Mid-Autumn Festival and Founding Day of China

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The Mid-Autumn Festival is a unique event celebrated in China and Vietnam. Its other name - the Lunar Festival - fully corresponds to the specifics of the celebration. The festival takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar, which falls in September or early October in the Gregorian calendar, when the full moon can be seen in the sky. On this night, residents of big cities go out into the streets to admire the night luminary and taste unusual delicacies - "moon gingerbread" (round cupcakes with various fillings).

By the full moon, the Chinese complete the harvest, and the round disk of the night star (corresponding in Chinese tradition with the feminine principle) symbolizes fertility and prosperity. According to ancient beliefs, a lot of incense is lit to appease Chanye, the mythical inhabitant of the moon. Her companion is a rabbit, who crushes the potion of immortality in a mortar. According to legend, beautiful Chan'e mistakenly drank the potion of immortality, which served as a reward for her beloved Houi. A well-aimed archer managed to shoot down nine stars, the light of which could overheat the earth, for which the Emperor gave him an elixir, which was supposed to be drunk in small sips. After drinking the forbidden drink in one gulp, Chan'e flew to the moon, and Huoyi, after death, ascended into the sun. Since then, lovers can meet only once a year, on the 15th day of the eighth month.

During the lunar festival, the streets are animated - families walk until the morning, which is especially enjoyed by children. They are not averse to eating "moon gingerbread", which are everywhere - in abundance. By the way, it is believed that these sweets have played a special role in the history of China. With their help, in the 14th century, public figures managed to raise an uprising against the Yuan dynasty. Despite the ban on gatherings, activist Liu Futong handed out lots of gingerbread, each containing a note calling for the overthrow of the government.

I will continue the theme of Chinese holidays in the blog. This time I will talk about the second significant holiday- Mid-Autumn Festival. As you might guess, the most important among the Chinese is the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), and this holiday is in second place.

It is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Its second name is the Festival of the Moon. The Chinese have long noticed that it is in the 8th month that the Moon appears to us from the Earth. larger size and shine brighter. All the traditions of this holiday are connected with the Moon.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Chinese have one official day off, which they try to do on Friday or Monday. Let me remind you that our Gregorian and Chinese lunar calendars do not match, and the date of the Mid-Autumn Festival varies from year to year.

Schedule

2017 - October 4, but it coincides with the Founding Day of the PRC, the day off is scheduled for October 8

2020 - October 1, but it coincides with the Founding Day of the PRC, the day off is scheduled for October 8

A bit of history

The Mid-Autumn Festival dates back 3,000 years during the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC). But initially it was not a holiday for the common people. On this day, the rulers made sacrifices to the moon and ancestors for the benefit of the future harvest. In addition, the autumnal equinox falls at about the same time, and the sacrifices were combined.

Later, this tradition of imperial sacrifice lost its significance, replaced by the tradition of daily sacrifices. winter solstice when the emperor went from to with the goal of appeasing Heaven and asking for prosperity for the country.

The common people began to celebrate mid-autumn during the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties. This holiday was considered double. On the one hand - the largest moon, on the other - the nearest full moon to the spring equinox. In the Tang era, the holiday became official.

There are many legends associated with this festival, which are worth telling.

The Legend of Chang Yi

In ancient times, 10 suns shone above the earth at once, it was hot and it was very difficult for people. But there was a hero named Hou Yui, who shot down 9 suns with a bow. He became famous, and many people were drawn to him to study. Among these people was a man named Peng Men. Later, the hero Hou Yui fell in love with a girl named Chang Yi, and they got married.

Once, Hou Yui visited his longtime friend, the Empress of Heaven named Wan Mu. She gave him a wonderful elixir, after drinking which a person became an immortal god and flew to heaven. Hou Yui brought the elixir home and gave it to his wife for safekeeping. Unfortunately, the dastardly Stump Men was following them.

When Hou Yui went hunting, Peng Men made his way to Chang Yi and tried to take the elixir. Chang Yi knew that she would not be able to resist Peng Menu and drank the elixir. She became a god, but could not fly to Heaven because she loved her husband too much. She remained on the Moon, since the Moon is the closest celestial body to the Earth.

Upon learning of this, Hou Yui began to sacrifice his wife's favorite dishes to the moon. And other people began to do the same.

Legend of the Jade Hare

Once, three immortals pretended to be beggars and asked for food from a fox, a monkey and a hare. The fox and the monkey shared with them, but the hare had no food. He said: “I have nothing to give you, eat me” and threw himself into the fire. Immortals were shocked, they made the hare jade and sent it to the moon. There he spends time in the company of Chang Yi and crushes the elixir of immortality in a mortar.

Legend of notes in pies

From 1271 to 1368, the Mongols (Yuan Dynasty) ruled China. They were the descendants of Genghis Khan, who broke through and enslaved China. The Chinese rebelled against them, but their actions were unorganized. A way was needed to notify all the rebels and set a day for a general uprising.

The method was invented by Zhu Yuanzhang, the head of the rebels and the first emperor of the next Ming dynasty. He baked traditional moon cakes and put notes in them with the words: "We rise on the night of the 15th day of the 8th month." The uprising ended successfully, the Mongols were overthrown, and their capital Khanbalik (current) was destroyed.

Traditions

All traditions are somehow connected with the Moon. Main tradition is the sacrifice of food to the moon, and the most common sacrifice is traditional moon cakes. Any edible round-shaped items are also suitable - watermelons, oranges, grapefruits, and so on. I will not explain the symbolism, it is obvious.

It is strange that it is not customary to donate money, because the coins are round. It is even called “yuan”, which translates as “round”.

And of course, moon cakes are eaten. The hostess prepares a round cake, cuts it into several pieces for all family members and distributes it. If someone cannot attend the gala dinner, then a piece of the pie must be left for him.

Modern Chinese in cities usually do not make the cake themselves, but buy it ready-made in the store. And in the cities, small round-shaped pies are more popular.

Like the Spring Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival is family celebration. Everyone should be together. Many Chinese people try to reunite with their families on this day. Therefore, on the eve of this holiday it will be more expensive, the demand for tickets increases, the price of tickets increases.

Each province has its own traditions. In Xian, in honor of the Moon, dancing fountains are played and sung next to. It is considered very prestigious to dine that day in restaurants on the upper floors of skyscrapers -, and. In Wuhan, you can look at the moon from the top floor - it is considered good luck.

Mid-Autumn Festival for Tourists

There are no single traditions of celebration, and in each city of tourists we are waiting for our own set of entertainment. Mass events are mandatory, but you need to be interested in the place and time of their holding in advance. The celebration in Hong Kong is especially interesting - dances of the Fire Dragons are held here.

And of course, moon cakes are sold everywhere. They differ greatly in filling in different provinces. They are very tasty, do not miss the chance to try them.

Have a nice Chinese holidays, and read other interesting articles about China on the blog ( links below).

Autumn has begun, and along with this incredible time, the time to prepare for one of the most significant celebrations of Chinese culture - the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is held according to the Chinese calendar on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. This year the celebration will take place on October 4 - very soon. Jongchiujie (中秋节 - Mid-Autumn Festival) dates back to ancient times, but in the modern world, this event is very significant for the Chinese people. Even now, during the celebration, no one works, everyone walks and has fun. Preparations for the celebration are carried out in advance, as this is one of the most beloved holidays of Heaven.

Let's dive into the history of the origin

The Mooncake Festival, as it is commonly called, originated about 3,000 years ago during the reign of the Zhou Dynasty. Not surprisingly, this holiday is shrouded in various myths and legends. Ancient Chinese emperors worshiped the Moon, brought offerings to her and her ancestors, for the benefit of the future harvest. Therefore, this celebration is also considered a harvest festival. It is also known that earlier this event was inaccessible to ordinary working people. Around the same holiday, the autumn solstice falls, and many offerings are combined.

A little later, the tradition of offerings was transferred to the day of the winter solstice, at the time when the ruler, leaving the Forbidden City, went to the Temple of Heaven to ask for prosperity for the country from Heaven. For commoners, the celebration of the festival became available during the Sui and Tang dynasties. For many, this is a double holiday, since at this time the closest full moon occurs, as well as the equality of day and night.

As mentioned earlier, there are many myths about the origin of the Holiday. The most romantic story about the girl Chang Yi tells that in the old days people had a very difficult time, as 10 suns shone above the earth at once. This made life very difficult for the common people. And there was a guy named Hou Yui, who managed to destroy 9 luminous discs from the bow at once, leaving only one that gives warmth. This act attracted many people to the young man who wanted to learn such a gift.

A little later, the archer fell in love with the beautiful Chang Yi and they sealed the union by marriage. One day, the guy visited Wan Mu (Empress of Heaven), who was his old girlfriend. She presented him with a gift of a miraculous elixir that gives eternal, divine life and provides life in the heavenly kingdom. Hou Yui gave the drug to his wife, and he went hunting. At this time, a bad man named Pen Menu came to their house, who intended to take away the elixir in order to receive eternal life. The poor girl understood that she could not defeat the villain and took the drug. After that, Chang Yi became a deity, but she could not reach heaven, because she loved her husband so much. The girl stayed on the moon, because this is the closest planet located to the Earth. In this way, she could be closer to her beloved husband.

Hou Yui learned about the incident and wept bitterly. Looking longingly at the pale disk, he said the name of his beloved. At that moment, the moon flared brightly. Hou Yui saw the silhouette of Chang Yi sadly looking at her husband. After that, the grief-stricken young man began to make offerings to the moon, which consisted of the most favorite dishes of his beloved. Other people followed suit. So was born new tradition which lives to this day.

And now I would like to tell you about the traditions and rituals of this wonderful celebration.

The most important dish of this holiday are cakes, they are also called "moon cookies". They come in a wide variety of flavors, and the recipe for making cakes is the most diverse. Each town has its own own secret cooking. This dish is baked in a round shape, small diameter. May be with or without filling, sweet or savory. For every taste, you can taste the symbol of this wonderful holiday. Surprisingly, each small cookie is imprinted on top in the form beautiful pattern or ornament. Even eating such a beauty is a pity. Cookies are sold on every corner in abundance.

Long before the festival itself, the shops are filled with a festive atmosphere - the sale of cookies, beautiful packaging materials and other attributes begins.

Everything that happens on this day is related to the moon. Residents of towns decorate the streets with lanterns, all kinds of bright decorations. Cities are immediately filled with incredible warmth, bright light and immersed in an incredible atmosphere of peace. People unite and bring offerings not only in the form of symbolic moon cakes, but also in the form of various round-shaped fruits and vegetables. After all, they are also outwardly somewhat similar to the moon and symbolize the harvest.

The Mid-Autumn Festival in China is accompanied by folk festivals with songs and dances. The traditional Chinese dragon dance is a mesmerizing sight. This dance is very significant for the Chinese people, but not in all corners on this day you can see it. The celebration lasts all night. Everyone gives each other nice gifts, eat cakes and look at the full moon. An indescribable atmosphere of love and unity. The older generation especially loves this day, because they are given special attention and honor. However entertainment in different cities it may differ, but they are all united in one thing - the worship of the majesty of the moon. In Chinese villages, it is a spiritual tradition to gather all relatives in the fresh air. The hostess covers festive table with all kinds of food. Relatives can have long conversations, remember those who could not be with them that evening and admire the full moon. Very warm and welcoming.

Zhongqiujie is also called the Harvest Festival, as it coincides with the end of harvesting in time. This holiday is also called the Festival of the Moon Goddess. The ancient peoples who lived in areas with a hot climate, especially revered the moon. There is a legend associated with this holiday among the people.

In ancient times, ten suns appeared in the sky. Because of the terrible drought, all crops died out, the life of the people became unbearable. In those days, a hero named Yi lived in the world, he possessed incredible strength. And he climbed to the top of Mount Kunlun, pulled the string, launched arrows at nine suns, and they fell. He ordered the remaining sun to rise and fall in time. Shooter I, whose heroic deed brought great happiness to people, earned the respect and love of the people. Many admirers of Yi went to him as students, one of them was a man named Pengmeng. I had beautiful wife called Chang'e. One day, Yi went to Kunlun Mountain to visit his friend there. On the way, he met the heavenly ruler Sivanmu. She gave Yi the elixir of immortality and said that, having drunk the elixir, Yi could immediately ascend to heaven and gain eternal life. But Yi did not want to leave his beloved Chang'e, so he gave the elixir of immortality to his wife for safekeeping. Pengmeng happened to see Chang'e hiding the elixir of immortality in a jewelry box.

Once, when Yi was not at home, Pengmen came to Chang'e. Threatening with a sword, he began to demand from Chang'e the elixir of immortality. Chang'e knew that she was no match for Pengmeng. Therefore, she had no choice but to swallow the elixir of immortality herself. Miracles began to happen here. Chang'e lifted off the ground, flew out the window and flew to the moon. Pengmen ran away with nothing.

Shooter Yi was heartbroken when he learned of what had happened. Looking into the night sky, he called his beloved by name. Suddenly, he noticed with surprise that on that night the moon was especially clear and bright, and a shadow similar to Chang'e flashed across it. And with all his might he rushed after the moon, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not overtake the moon.

And every day he yearned for his wife. Shooter Yi ordered to install in the garden where Chang'e liked to walk, a table for the incense burner, to put sweets and fruits beloved by his wife as a sacrifice on it. Having learned that Chang'e had landed on the Moon and gained immortality, people one by one began to install incense burners under the Moon in the evening hours and ask Chang'e to send them happiness and prosperity. Since then, the custom has spread among the people on Mid-Autumn Day to worship the Moon.