FINAL VERSION Mid-Autumn Festival Assignment
1.
What is the origin
of Mid-Autumn Festival? What is the date for the 2016 Mid-Autumn festival? (2)
The
modern Mid-Autumn Festival began over 3,000 years ago. Fourteen centuries ago,
in the Tang Dynasty, the festival became a celebration. (Fang Yang, 2011) It
gained its popularity during the Song dynasty. The act of celebrating has been
recorded before this time. Another common name is Moon Festival. The most
common story involves Chang'e, known as the Moon Goddess of Immortality, to
whom offerings are made. It became an official holiday in China in 2008. It is
usually celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month during the autumn
season and is characterized by harvest and family reunions. In the Gregorian
calendar this usually becomes September to October. This is when the moon is
completely round and shines magnificently. The date for the Mid-Autumn festival
in 2016 is Thursday September 15th. (Wikipedia, 2016)
2.
What is the basic
meaning for this festival? What are the common customs for celebrating
Mid-Autumn Festival (3)
It is an
opportunity for family and friends to meet each other, especially if they don’t
do so very often. The meaning of this festival is a combination of three
concepts: Gathering, Thanksgiving, and Praying. In different parts of China, or
different countries, these concepts may be omitted or added to. Gathering can
also refer to the harvesting of crops (mainly rice and wheat). Thanksgiving
includes having appreciation for the harvest and reunions. (Wikipedia, 2016)
Mooncakes symbolize this festival and are said to have been first made in the
14th Century, when the Chinese were planning to overthrow the Mongolian rulers
of the Yuan Dynasty. In some places, lanterns and dragon/lion dances are held
as part of the celebrations. Incense may be burned to honor deities such as
Chang’e. The moon and the mooncake are both a round shape which symbolizes
completeness and reunion. Giving mooncakes to others is the more widespread
custom now, as opposed to sharing it by cutting it up or making it at home.
Common customs include festivities relating to the moon, worshipping and
admiring the moon, eating mooncakes, and many others.
Chang'e is the
mythical Chinese goddess of the Moon. Some think that she endows her worshipers
with beauty or can allow dreams to come true.The Goddess Chang’s fly to the moon:In the ancient times, ten suns
appeared together and caused hardship for the people. Houyi(后羿), a powerful archer, pitied
them, and climbed up the Kunlun Mountains, where in a single breath he shot
down nine suns. In order to bring happiness to the people, he orders the last
sun to rise and set on time. He becomes respected by the people and marries
Chang’e. Many followers come to learn from him, and among these there is
FengMeng(蓬蒙). One day, he
climbs up the Kunlun Mountains again, to visit friends and learn the path. He
accidentally comes across ‘Queen Mother’ who gives the elixir of immortality to
him. He does not want to leave his wife alone and therefore gives this to her
for safekeeping. Three days later, he goes hunting, but does not take FengMeng,
who had pretended to be sick. FengMeng takes his sword and enters the backyard,
trying to force Chang'e to give the elixir to him. With no choice, Chang'e
drinks it. Her body floats off the ground, passes through an open window and rises
into the sky. Worrying about not being able to see her husband, she chooses to
stay at the nearest place, which is the Moon.
每逢佳节倍思亲 Thoughts of relatives double each
time an important festival is encountered.This sentence covers all the emotions
and thoughts that would be spoken before the festival. It would be both written
and spoken.
月有阴晴圆缺，人有悲欢离合 The Moon has shade, brightness,
it can be round or incomplete, people have grief at separation and joy in
union. This phrase can be used to comfort others when they are sad. It
tells others to overcome their sadness just as the moon and people do, because
life is always changing.
团团圆圆过中秋Reunite and celebrate Mid-Autumn
Festival together. When we meet other family members we may say this before the
date of the festival to encourage them to spend time with family. The older
generation may be more likely to say this. Since, in the past, most families
lived together in large houses.
中秋快乐，阖家幸福Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, may
your whole family prosper. We may say this on the day of the celebrations, or
write it on greeting cards.
十五的月亮十六圆The moon on the 15th
becomes round on the 16th. The perfect moon comes after Mid-Autumn
day. This may be used to tell others that good things come later. Perhaps
perseverance may bring about changes for the better. Waiting in patience can
bring good results.
Bibliography
Beijing Municipal Government, Mid-Autumn
Festival: A Time for Reunionhttp://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/Culture/EnjoyBJ/t950624.htm
(accessed 24 August 2016)
Fang Yang 2011, Mid-Autumn
Festival and traditions http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/culture/2011-09/12/c_131134150.htm
(accessed 26 August 2016)
Wikipedia 2016, Chang'ehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27e#Tales
(accessed 26 August 2016)
Wikipedia 2016, Mid-Autumn
Festival Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival#Origins_and_development
(accessed 26 August 2016)
百度百科 2016,嫦娥（中国神话人物）http://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%AB%A6%E5%A8%A5/68389
(accessed 26 August 2016)
百度百科 2016, 中秋节http://baike.baidu.com/view/2568.htm
(accessed 26 August 2016)
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