Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Harvest Moon Festival or Moon Cake Festival is an important traditional festival celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar. This festival is held all over China and its celebrants enjoy eating moon cakes and watching the full moon.

The festival is also celebrated in other parts of Asia, especially in countries with large Chinese populations. It’s a time to celebrate family, friends and the harvest season. If you are teaching English in China, this is also a great time for you to learn about Chinese culture.

A little history of the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a popular holiday in China. It has its origins in the harvest moon festival, which was celebrated as early as the Shang dynasty, more than 3,000 years ago.

The modern Mid-Autumn Festival was officially established by the Chinese Communist Party in 1949. This holiday is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar, which falls around September or October on our Gregorian calendar.

In ancient China, people celebrated their ancestors and worshiped heaven during this time of year because they believed that ghosts came down from heaven to meet their families at night during this time of year. They also believed that this was an auspicious time to pray for good fortune and happiness ahead of them in the coming year.

Here are 5 interesting facts about this festival that you won’t want to miss while teaching in China:

It is also called the moon festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the Moon Festival, and it is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar.

The festival is often associated with harvest celebrations, and in many places, you’ll see decorations that depict reaping scythes or other harvest-related imagery.

Because of its significance in Chinese culture, the full moon holds great meaning for this holiday! It represents unity and harmony between family members and friends alike, which makes it a wonderful time to come together with everyone you love in order for everyone to share their stories about what has happened since last year’s celebration—and what they hope will happen next year at this same time!

Most Chinese people believe the moon is at its brightest during the festival

The moon is a big part of the festival, and many people support the belief that the moon is at its brightest during the festival. Either way, the festival is celebrated as a time to honour the harvest and give thanks for all of the good things in life. In China, it’s also a time to celebrate family and friends, and people often go on vacation during this period.

Many people look forward to seeing the moon as much as possible. The festival is also an opportunity for people to reflect on their lives by thinking about what they’ve done well and what they could do better next year.

It was once ranked second in Chinese festivals

It’s the second most important festival in China and is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month. This holiday celebrates family and friends, as well as community—and it’s also a time to give thanks for the harvest.

A box of mooncakes can cost more than usual

Making moon cakes is one of the famous activities that happen during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The traditional way of making moon cakes is by hand, using a special recipe that has been passed down for generations. In the past, families would make their own moon cakes together, which helped them bond while also contributing to their family’s food supply.

However, with the creativity that it takes to come up with some of the largest moon cakes, the prices of the cakes might cost more than usual. This is because some of the ingredients are hard to come by and can only be found in certain areas. In addition, the labour involved in making moon cakes is quite intensive; it takes a lot of time and effort to make each one!

It was once considered a second “Valentines’s day” in China

If you are planning on celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, there are a few things that you need to know. The first is that once upon a time it was considered a second “Valentines’s Day” for lovers. Young men would give young ladies moon cakes and other sweet treats as gifts, while they enjoyed the beautiful autumn scenery together. However, this tradition has died down significantly over time and now most people think of it as just another opportunity to spend time with family members or share food with friends.

The second thing is that children receive money from their parents during this holiday so they can buy items like toys or clothes for themselves (or maybe even save up for a laptop!). Some adults also like to give certain types of candy at this time because there’s an old saying about how eating certain foods will bring you good luck—and what better way to bring yourself good fortune than by giving some out?

Conclusion

The Mid-Autumn Festival carries a lot of meaning in Chinese culture. It’s a time for families to spend time together, giving thanks for their blessings and sharing good fortune with each other. It’s also a time for children to receive gifts from their parents as well as some candy—which is believed to bring good luck.

Either way, as a teacher in a foreign nation, it is important to pay attention to cultural practices. It helps to understand the significance of events like the Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as why they are celebrated. The more you know about a culture, the more effective you be at interacting with your students.