目录中秋节的起源简短英语 中秋节的传说英文简短 中秋节的来历英文带翻译 用英文说中秋节的由来 中秋节的由来英语翻译简短
中秋节的来历英文简短介绍如下：
according to chinese mythology, the earth once had 10 suns circling over it. one day, all 10 suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. the earth was saved when a strong archer, hou yi, succeeded in shooting down 9 of the suns. yi stole the elixir of life to save the people from his tyrannical rule, but his wife, chang-e drank it. thus started the legend of the lady in the moon to whom young chinese girls would pray at the mid-autumn festival.
传说古时候，天空曾有10个太阳。一天，这10个太阳同时出现，酷热难挡。弓箭手后翌射下了其中9个太阳，拯救了地球上的生灵。他偷了长生不死药，却被妻子嫦娥偷偷喝下。此后，每年中秋月圆之时，少女们都要向月宫仙女嫦娥祈福的传说便流传开来。
in the 14th century, the eating of mooncakes at "zhong qiu jie" was given a new significance. the story goes that when zhu yuan zhang was plotting to overthrow the yuan dynasty started by the mongolians, the rebels hid their messages in the mid-autumn mooncakes. zhong qiu jie is hence also a commemoration of the overthrow of the mongolians by the han people.
HouYiwasrespectedasthenationalheroandreceivedanelixirofimmortalityasarewardforsavingthepeoplefromtheheatofmultiplesuns.
凭借穗带前将人们从多个太阳的炙烤下解救了出来，后羿被奉为英雄，并获得长生不老药以作奖励。
However,theelixironlyhadenoughforoneperson,andbothChang'eandHouYididn'twanttoleaveeachother.
但是这个长生不老药的量只够一个人服用，并且嫦娥和后羿也都不想离开对方。
Butoneday,oneofHouYi'sstudentstriedtostealtheelixirwhenhewasn'thome.
但有一天，后羿的一个徒弟想趁他不在家的时候来偷长生不老药。
Inordertoprotecttheelixirfromthieves,Chang'etookthemagicelixirofimmortality.
为了保护长生不老药不被偷走，嫦娥不得不服下了它。
Thensheflewtothemoonandbecamethemoongoddessleavingherhusbandbehind.
随后她就飞到了月亮上，成为了月亮仙子，从此和她的丈夫分离。
Aloneonearth,HouYimissedhiswifesomuchthathemadeanofferingtothe行握moonandtriedtofindtheshapeofChang'eonthemoon.
而孤零零地被留在大地上的后羿，由于非常想念自己的妻子，于是向月亮献上祭品，试图在月亮上找到嫦娥的身影。
TorememberChang'e,Chinesepeopleworshipthemoonbyeatingfruitandmoon-shapeddesserts猜清calledmooncakes.
为了纪念嫦娥，中国人会吃水果和一种被称为“月饼”的满月形状的点心，来祭祀月亮。
ThisisthelegendoftheoriginoftheMidautumnFestival,whichisalsocalled"themoonfestival".
这就是中秋节又被称为“月亮节”由来的传说。
August 15th, during the three autumns, it is called Mid-Autumn Festival. In the Mid-Autumn Festival, the temperature is cold and cold, the weather is high, and the moon is in the sky. It is the best season to play the moon. People love to play the moon at this time. It is the season from the Tang Dynasty. This is the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
八月十五，时届三秋之中，故谓中秋。中秋时节，气温已凉未寒，天高气爽，月朗中天，为玩月最佳时令，人们多爱此时玩月，自唐以下渐演为节令，这就是中秋节的由来。
中秋节，又称月夕、秋节、仲秋节、八月节、八月会、追月节、玩月节、拜月节梁罩棚、女儿节或团圆节，是流行于中国众多民族与汉字文化圈诸国的传统文化节日，时在农历八月十五；因其恰值三秋之半，故名，也有些地方将中秋节定在八月十六。
中秋节始于唐朝初年，盛行于宋朝，至明清时，已成为与春节齐名的中国传统节日之一。受中华文化的影响，中秋节也是东亚和东南亚一些国家尤其是当地的华人华侨的传统节日。自2008年起中秋节被列为国家法定节假日。2006年5月20日，国务院列入首批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。
中秋节自古便有祭月、赏月、拜月、吃月饼橡则闷档、赏桂花、饮桂花酒等习俗，流传至今，经久不息。中秋节以月之圆兆人之团圆，为寄托思念故乡，思念亲人之情，祈盼丰收、幸福，成为丰富多彩、弥足珍贵的文化遗产。中秋节与端午节、春节、清明节并称为中国四大传统节日。
中秋节来漏差历 英语80字 带翻译 （急）
"Zhong Qiu Jie", which is also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. It is a time for family members and loved ones to congregate and enjoy the full moon - an auspicious symbol of abundance, harmony and luck. Adults will usually indulge in fragrant mooncakes of many varieties with a good cup of piping hot Chinese tea, while the little ones run around with their brightly-lit lanterns.
农历八月侍搜茄十五日是中国的传统节日——中秋节。在这天，每个家庭都团聚在一起，一家人共同观赏象征丰裕、和谐和幸运的圆月。此时，大人们吃著美味的月饼，品著热腾腾的香茗，而孩子们则在一旁拉着兔子灯尽情玩耍
"Zhong Qiu Jie" probably began as a harvest festival. The festival was later given a mythological flavour with legends of Chang-E, the beautiful lady in the moon.
中秋节最早可能是一个庆祝丰收的节日。后来，月宫里美丽的仙女嫦娥的神话故事赋予了它神话色彩。
Aording to Chinese mythology, the earth once had 10 suns circling over it. One day, all 10 suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. The earth was saved when a strong archer, Hou Yi, sueeded in shooting down 9 of the suns. Yi stole the elixir of life to save the people from his tyrannical rule, but his wife, Chang-E drank it. Thus started the legend of the lady in the moon to whom young Chinese girls would pray at the Mid-Autumn Festival.
传说古时候，天空曾有10个太阳。一天，这10个太阳同时出现，酷热难挡。弓箭手后翌射下了其中9个太阳，拯救了地球上的生灵。他偷了长生不死药，却被妻子嫦娥偷偷喝老察下。此后，每年中秋月圆之时，少女们都要向月宫仙女嫦娥祈福的传说便流传开来。
In the 14th century, the eating of mooncakes at "Zhong Qiu Jie" was given a new significance. The story goes that when Zhu Yuan Zhang was plotting to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty started by the Mongolians, the rebels hid their messages in the Mid-Autumn mooncakes. Zhong Qiu Jie is hence also a memoration of the overthrow of the Mongolians by the Han people.
在14世纪，中秋节吃月饼又被赋予了一层特殊的含义。传说在朱元璋带兵起义推翻元朝时，将士们曾把联络信藏在月饼里。因此，中秋节后来也成为汉人推翻蒙古人统治的纪念日。
During the Yuan Dynasty (A.D.1206-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung Dynasty (A.D.960-1279) were unhappy at submitting to foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion without it being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Packed into each mooncake was a message with the outline of the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels suessfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644). Today, moon cakes are eaten to memorate this event.
在元朝，蒙古人统治中国。前朝统治者们不甘心政权落入外族之手，于是密谋策划联合起义。正值中秋将近，起义首领就命令部下制作一种特别的月饼，把起义计划藏在每个月饼里。到中秋那天，起义军获取胜利，推翻了元朝，建立明朝。今天，人们吃月饼纪念此事。
写中秋节的英语作文，80字，带翻译
Mid-autumn festival is one of the traditional Chinese festival. People regard mid-autumn festival as the time when family members should get together because the moon will be full on that day. The festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar. Besides, family members will eat moon-cake together. Children can do interesting things as well. They can carry lanterns that was made into different shapes and play on the street.
中秋是中国传统节日之一。人们把中秋看做是家人团圆的日子因为那天的月亮是圆的。节日是在阴历8月15的时候。此外，家人会一起吃月饼。孩子们也能做有趣的事情。他们能带着做成各种形状的灯笼去街上玩。
中秋节的来历于习俗（翻译成英语）
端午节的由来 58英语 端午节，又称为五五节，因为端午节是在农历的五月五端午节的习俗主要有：吃粽子于门上插艾或菖蒲驱邪，系长命缕，饮雄黄酒或
请用英语翻译中秋节的来历这段。
相传，中秋节起源于嫦娥奔月的神话故事，传说射日英雄后羿巧遇王母娘娘求得不死药，交给爱妻嫦娥珍藏，被小人蓬蒙偷窥伺机抢夺，危急之时嫦娥吞下不死药，无奈飞升到离地球最近的月亮上成了仙，从此后羿只能在中秋月圆之时登高，遥望月中嫦娥，并摆上圆圆的饼和圆圆的蛋品，寄相思之情。
Aording to legend, the origin of the festival in the moon myth, legend of heroHou Yi meets Wang Mu empress radio obtained immortality drug, give wifeChang'e treasure, Peng Meng to snatch is peeping, critical time of Chang'eswallowed the medicine, but up to the nearest to the Earth Moon to bee an immortal, and Hou Yi only in the mid autumn full moon when climbing, overlooking the months for the moon, and the round cake and a round egg, send Acacia.
此后，每年的中秋月圆之夜就成了我国传统的中秋节，由于中秋节以月圆为象征，所以中秋节又被称为“团圆节”，这天人们登高吟诗、泛舟赏月、品月饼、吃团圆蛋等，共庆佳节人团圆。
Since then, the annual mid autumn full moon night became China's traditional Mid Autumn Festival, the moon as a symbol of Mid Autumn Festival to, so the Mid Autumn Festival is also known as "Reunion", when people climbing poems,boating on the moon, the moon cake, happy to eat eggs, celebrate the festivalreunion.
中秋之夜，月色皎洁，家人团聚，古人把圆月视为团圆的象征，更是以圆月来寄托深情。蛋圆似月，古往今来就是象征团圆的吉祥食品，蛋圆人团圆。中秋节素来有吃月饼和吃团圆蛋的习俗，圆圆的月饼和圆圆的蛋，是象征吉祥团圆的食品，又是中秋节人们相互表达祝福的纽带。
Mid autumn night, the moonlight is bright, the family reunion, the moon as a symbol of reunion, is the full moon to express affection. Egg round like a month,from ancient to modern times is a symbol of reunion auspicious food, egg circlereunion. The Mid Autumn Festival has always been eat moon cake and reunionbread, the round moon cakes and round eggs, is the symbol of auspiciousreunion of the food, it is the Mid Autumn Festival people express blessings bond.
团圆佳节，送上一份神丹团圆蛋，品著团圆的滋味，感受思念的情浓。
Reunion festival, send a god Dan reunion eggs, with the reunion of the taste, feel the miss of love.
中秋节英语翻译
The Mid-Autumn Day is an old traditional festival in china. We will be in the Mid-Autumn Festival to do a lot of interesting things.
First of all, my family and I will go to the supermarket to buy some fruit mooncakes. Then go and look after my sister, and she with other little friends. In the afternoon, I go to buy some snack stalls. Finally, we went to the moon.、
译文是：中秋节是中国一个古老的传统节日。我们将在中秋节去做很多有趣的事情。
首先，我和我的家人将要去超市买水果味的月饼。然后去照看我的妹妹，和她一起去跟其他小朋友玩乐。午后，我去小摊去买点小吃。最后，我们一起去赏月。
中秋节英语：
Mid Autumn Festival
中秋节英语短文(带翻译)
客观后果。客观后个。和，经过开会上。比较就；去GOEJEGO ’AEJG‘OJA’‘RSHOJE；哦了；文科了可；啊额、可；E“了；安康社考核历史而是、好
问中秋节的来历80字
根据史籍的记载，“中秋”一词最早出现在《周礼》一书中。到魏晋时，有“谕尚书镇牛淆，中秋夕与左右微服泛江”的记载。直到唐朝初年，中秋节才成为固定的节日。《唐书·太宗记》记载有“八月十五中秋节”。中秋节的盛行始于宋朝，至明清时，已与元旦齐名，成为我国的主要节日之一。这也是我国仅次于春节的第二大传统节日。
中秋节的来历英文版的翻译
一个英雄的所谓厚，一天，他走出去，与他的学生！
一名学生的所谓pengmeng ，他知道厚的妻子，换，曾根的事情，可以让人们成为不朽！
pengmeng希望成为不朽的，所以他使用的刀，并表示要更换，如果她不想给他那个东西，她会死亡！
换不想pengmeng是一个不朽的，和她用那个东西，并成为不朽的
我的中秋节英语作文带翻译550字
中国，是一个历史悠久的文明古国。然而，中国也有许多传统节日，我最喜欢的就是中秋节，看着朦胧如水，如梦似幻的月色，吃著香甜可口的月饼，和自己的亲人聊聊天，叙叙旧，心情不由得好了起来，烦恼，忧愁立刻烟消云散。
相传在远古的时候，天空中出现了十个太阳，后羿心地善良、机智神勇为民除害，射下了九个太阳。
人们得知了这个讯息后，都十分敬重他，拜他为师。有个叫逢蒙的人，为人奸诈狡猾，当他得知后羿的妻子嫦娥手中有一丸能使人长生不老并可升天成仙的仙丹后，也装模做样地拜在后羿的门下，为的就是找机会偷走仙丹。
八月十五日的夜晚，逢蒙偷偷潜入只有嫦娥一人的家里，威逼她交出仙丹。可嫦娥怕他害死无辜的百姓，眼看逢蒙就要抢到仙丹了，她一个箭步冲上去，将仙丹一口吞了下去。嫦娥飘飘悠悠地飞上了天，一直朝着月亮飞去。
老百姓们得知了这个讯息后，都很想念好心的嫦娥，在院子里摆上嫦娥平时最爱吃的点心，遥遥地为她祝福。从此以后，每年的八月十五就成了人们期盼团圆的中秋佳节。
在唐代，中秋赏月、玩月颇为盛行。宋代，民间以月饼相赠，取团圆之义。有些地方还有舞草龙，砌宝塔等活动。明清以来，中秋节的风俗更加盛行；许多地方形成了烧斗香、树中秋、点塔灯、放天灯、走月亮、舞火龙等特殊风俗。
这是多么心旷神怡的境界啊：清凉的微风拂过发梢，空气中弥漫着月饼与桂花的清甜香味，月光如水，静静地洒在平地上。。。
庆中秋
盼望已久的中秋佳节终于到了，人们兴高采烈，以各种节目形式来欢度这个传统节日。这天刚好是我叔叔的生日，大家一起在酒店里聚餐，庆祝生日，共度佳节。
来到酒店门口，哗!那里人山人海，连泊车的位子都没有了，人们把酒店都围了个水泄不通。幸好我们预先订好了四张桌，看到整个饭店人头攒动，热闹非凡的欢乐景象，我心里特别高兴，尽情地品赏著各种各样的海鲜和名菜。
吃完晚饭，我们就到海滨泳场看花灯。这时，一轮明月高高挂在天上，又大又圆，把整个大地都照得亮堂堂的。今年的天气特别好，九点十五分，我们来到目的地时，沙滩上已经灯火辉煌，游人如织了。我们沿着沙滩一边观赏一边向前走。走进大门，“奇灯异彩耀水湾，依山伴水放珠海”的巨副对联则提醒游人千万不要忘记了在此赏月的大好时光。进入泳场，只见偌大的泳场里到处都是火树银花，奇灯异彩。游人的欢歌笑语此起彼伏。沙滩上三五成群的珠海人摆开锅碗瓢盆，搞起烧烤；有的在沙滩上铺开塑料纸，放上月饼、饮料等等，围在一起，对月举杯；有的人还手拉手跳起舞；热闹无比。
今天晚上的花灯令我大饱眼福，真是流涟忘返。当我们怀着愉快的心情走在回家的路上时，圆圆的月亮也悄悄地跟在我们的后面。
Chinese, is a long history of civilization. However, Chinesealso have many traditional festivals, I like the most is the Mid Autumn Festival, watched the hazy moonlight as water,dreamy, eating moon cakes, and their relatives chat, Fung,mood not help well up, worry, sorrow immediately disappear in *** oke.
It is said that in ancient time, there were ten suns in the sky,Hou Yi kind, witty brave people, shot down nine of the suns.
People learned of the news, have great respect for him, to worship him as a teacher. A man named Feng Mengpeople, as cunning, when he learned that Hou Yi's wife the goddess of the moon have "a pill can make people ever-young and ascension to bee immortal, also *** ugnessto worship in Hou Yi under the door, just looking for a chance to steal the elixir.
August 15th night, Feng Meng sneaked in only the people's home, forced her to hand over the elixir of life. But the fear of him to kill innocent people, see feng Meng to grab an elixir, she rushed to a panacea, to swallow. The fluttering leisurely fly on the sky, toward the moon.
People who heard the news, miss good Chang E, in the yard put on her usual favorite snacks, I bless for her. Since then, every year on August it became fifteen people look forward to the reunion of the mid autumn festival.
In the Tang Dynasty, the mid autumn moon, the moon is quite popular. The Song Dynasty, civil distinctions to cakes,take the meaning of reunion. In some places there is grass dragon dance, build pagodas and other activities. Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the custom of Mid Autumn Festival is more prevalent; many places formed a burning incense, the mid autumn trees, point tower lights, lantern,walk the moon, dance and other special customs.
This is how feel fresh realm ah: cool breeze blowing through the hair, the air was filled with the sweet *** ell ofcakes and sweet scented o *** anthus, moonlight as water,quietly sprinkled on the ground......
To celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival
The long-awaited finally to the Mid Autumn Festival, peoplebe jubilant, in the form of a variety of programs to celebrate the traditional festival. This is just my uncle's birthday,everyone in the hotel for dinner, birthday, festival.
Came to the front of the hotel, wow! Where huge crowds of people, even the parking seats are gone, the hotels are enclosed by a bursting at the seams. Fortunately, our prebooked four tables, see the whole hotel crowded, lively and extraordinary joy, I was very happy, enjoy tasting a varietyof seafood and dishes.
After dinner, we went to the seashore swimming placewatching lanterns. At this time, the moon is high in the sky,big and round, the whole earth with light. The weather of this year is particularly good, nine fifteen, we came to the destination, the beach is brilliantly illuminated, yourenruzhi.We walked along the beach side view. Walked into the door, "strange lights shine shine Bay, giant pair of poetic couplet mountains and water discharge of Zhuhai" to remind visitors don't fet the wall time. To swim, I saw the huge swimming around in fireworks, strange lights shine.Visitors to the song and laughter As one falls. The beach in groups of three and four Zhuhai people spread out the pots and pans, have barbecue; some open plastic paper on the beach capped, put on moon cakes, soft drinks, Wai together, on toast; some people hand-in-hand dance;bustle.
This evening I feasted my eyes on the lantern, is really flow ripple again. When we embrace the happy mood on the way home, the round moon also quietly behind us.
求采纳！
中秋节英语日记带翻译将来时
Today is the annual Mid Autumn Festival, in the evening, my mother prepared a large table of rich dishes, and fruit and drink, are all I like to eat. Surrounded by a family together, eating family reunion dinner, listening to the story of the festival of the grandfather said.After dinner, our family went to the balcony to enjoy the full moon, at this time, the moon was already high hang in the sky, like a ball, like a jade plate, like a mirror. All of a sudden, I think of the poet Li Bai wrote a song of the ancient long months ":" hours does not know the month, call for white jade plate, and suspect Yao table mirror, fly in the Qingyun end. " Mom also said the sister of the legend, I seem to see the beautiful moon sister in the moon rise and dance in a happy mood.We eat sweet fruits and moon cakes, while enjoying the beautiful night. Ah, it's a really unfettable day!
中秋节的念侍来历和习俗(中英对照)如下：
"Zhong Qiu Jie", which is also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. It is a time for family members and loved ones to congregate and enjoy the full moon - an auspicious symbol of abundance, harmony and luck. Adults will usually indulge in fragrant mooncakes of many varieties with a good cup of piping hot Chinese tea, while the little ones run around with their brightly-lit lanterns.
农历八月十五日是中国的传统节日——中秋节。在这天，每个家庭都团聚在一起，一家人共同观赏象征丰裕、和谐和幸运的圆月。此时，大人们吃着美味的月饼，品着热腾腾的香茗，而孩子们则在一旁睁高拦拉着兔子灯尽情玩耍。
"Zhong Qiu Jie" probably began as a harvest festival. The festival was later given a mythological flavour with legends of Chang-E, the beautiful lady in the moon.
中秋节最早可能是一个庆祝丰收的节日。后来，月宫里美丽的仙女嫦娥的神话故事赋予了它神话色彩。
According to Chinese mythology, the earth once had 10 suns circling over it. One day, all 10 suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. The earth was saved when a strong archer, Hou Yi, succeeded in shooting down 9 of the suns. Yi stole the elixir of life to save the people from his tyrannical rule, but his wife, Chang-E drank it. Thus started the legend of the lady in the moon to whom young Chinese girls would pray at the Mid-Autumn Festival.
传说古时候，天空曾有10个太阳。一天，这10个太阳同时出现，酷热难挡。弓箭手后翌射下了悉胡其中9个太阳，拯救了地球上的生灵。他偷了长生不死药，却被妻子嫦娥偷偷喝下。此后，每年中秋月圆之时，少女们都要向月宫仙女嫦娥祈福的传说便流传开来。
In the 14th century, the eating of mooncakes at "Zhong Qiu Jie" was given a new significance. The story goes that when Zhu Yuan Zhang was plotting to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty started by the Mongolians, the rebels hid their messages in the Mid-Autumn mooncakes. Zhong Qiu Jie is hence also a commemoration of the overthrow of the Mongolians by the Han people.
在14世纪，中秋节吃月饼又被赋予了一层特殊的含义。传说在朱元璋带兵起义推翻元朝时，将士们曾把联络信藏在月饼里。因此，中秋节后来也成为汉人推翻蒙古人统治的纪念日。
During the Yuan Dynasty (A.D.1206-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung Dynasty (A.D.960-1279) were unhappy at submitting to foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion without it being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Packed into each mooncake was a message with the outline of the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644). Today, moon cakes are eaten to commemorate this event.
在元朝，蒙古人统治中国。前朝统治者们不甘心政权落入外族之手，于是密谋策划联合起义。正值中秋将近，起义首领就命令部下制作一种特别的月饼，把起义计划藏在每个月饼里。到中秋那天，起义军获取胜利，推翻了元朝，建立明朝。今天，人们吃月饼纪念此事。
The joyous Mid-Autumn Festival, the third and last festival for the living, was celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth moon, around the time of the autumn equinox. Many referred to it simply as the "Fifteenth of the Eighth Moon". In the Western calendar, the day of the festival usually occurred sometime between the second week of September and the second week of October.
This day was also considered a harvest festival since fruits, vegetables and grain had been harvested by this time and food was abundant. With delinquent accounts settled prior to the festival , it was a time for relaxation and celebration. Food offerings were placed on an altar set up in the courtyard. Apples, pears, peaches, grapes, pomegranates , melons, oranges and pomelos might be seen. Special foods for the festival included moon cakes, cooked taro, edible snails from the taro patches or rice paddies cooked with sweet basil, and water caltrop, a type of water chestnut resembling black buffalo horns. Some people insisted that cooked taro be included because at the time of creation, taro was the first food discovered at night in the moonlight. Of all these foods, it could not be omitted from the Mid-Autumn Festival.
T he round moon cakes, measuring about three inches in diameter and one and a half inches in thickness, resembled Western fruitcakes in taste and consistency. These cakes were made with melon seeds, lotus seeds, almonds, minced meats, bean paste, orange peels and lard. A golden yolk from a salted duck egg was placed at the center of each cake, and the golden brown crust was decorated with symbols of the festival. Traditionally, thirteen moon cakes were piled in a pyramid to symbolize the thirteen moons of a "complete year," that is, twelve moons plus one intercalary moon.
Origin
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festivity for both the Han and minority nationalities. The custom of worshipping the moon (called xi yue in Chinese) can be traced back as far as the ancient Xia and Shang Dynasties (2000 B.C.-1066 B.C.). In the Zhou Dynasty(1066 B.C.-221 B.C.), people hold ceremonies to greet winter and worship the moon whenever the Mid-Autumn Festival sets in. It becomes very prevalent in the Tang Dynasty(618-907 A.D.) that people enjoy and worship the full moon. In the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279 A.D.), however, people send round moon cakes to their relatives as gifts in expression of their best wishes of family reunion. When it becomes dark, they look up at the full silver moon or go sightseeing on lakes to celebrate the festival. Since the Ming (1368-1644 A.D. ) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911A.D.), the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival celebration becomes unprecedented popular. Together with the celebration there appear some special customs in different parts of the country, such as burning incense, planting Mid-Autumn trees, lighting lanterns on towers and fire dragon dances. However, the custom of playing under the moon is not so popular as it used to be nowadays, but it is not less popular to enjoy the bright silver moon. Whenever the festival sets in, people will look up at the full silver moon, drinking wine to celebrate their happy life or thinking of their relatives and friends far from home, and extending all of their best wishes to them.
Moon Cakes
There is this story about the moon-cake. during the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to the foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion without being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Backed into each moon caked was a message with the outline of the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attached and overthrew the government. Today, moon cakes are eaten to commemorate this legend and was called the Moon Cake.
For generations, moon cakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates, wrapped in a pastry. Sometimes a cooked egg yolk can be found in the middle of the rich tasting dessert. People compare moon cakes to the plum pudding and fruit cakes which are served in the English holiday seasons.
Nowadays, there are hundreds varieties of moon cakes on sale a month before the arrival of Moon Festival.
Different Celebrated Forms
For thousands of years, the Chinese people have related the vicissitudes of life to changes of the moon as it waxes and wanes; joy and sorrow, parting and reunion. Because the full moon is round and symbolizes reunion, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the festival of reunion. All family members try to get together on this special day. Those who can not return home watch the bright moonlight and feel deep longing for their loved ones.
Today, festivities centered about the Mid-Autumn Festival are more varied. After a family reunion dinner, many people like to go out to attend special performances in parks or on public squares.
People in different parts of China have different ways to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Guangzhou in South China, a huge lantern show is a big attraction for local citizens. Thousands of differently shaped lanterns are lit, forming a fantastic contrast with the bright moonlight.
In East China's Zhejiang Province, watching the flood tide of the Qian-tang River during the Mid-Autumn Festival is not only a must for local people, but also an attraction for those from other parts of the country. The ebb and flow of tides coincide with the waxing and waning of the moon as it exerts a strong gravitational pull. In mid autumn, the sun, earth and moon send out strong gravitational forces upon the seas. The mouth of the Qiantang River is shaped like a bugle. So the flood tide which forms at the narrow mouth is particularly impressive. Spectators crowd on the river bank, watching the roaring waves. At its peak, the tide rises as high as three and a half meters.
