目錄中秋節的起源簡短英語 中秋節的傳說英文簡短 中秋節的來歷英文帶翻譯 用英文說中秋節的由來 中秋節的由來英語翻譯簡短
中秋節的來歷英文簡短介紹如下：
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.
傳說古時候，天空曾有10個太陽。一天，這10個太陽同時出現，酷熱難擋。弓箭手后翌射下了其中9個太陽，拯救了地球上的生靈。他偷了長生不死藥，卻被妻子嫦娥偷偷喝下。此后，每年中秋月圓之時，少女們都要向月宮仙女嫦娥祈福的傳說便流傳開來。
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.
憑借穗帶前將人們從多個太陽的炙烤下解救了出來，后羿被奉為英雄，并獲得長生不老藥以作獎勵。
However,theelixironlyhadenoughforoneperson,andbothChang'eandHouYididn'twanttoleaveeachother.
但是這個長生不老藥的量只夠一個人服用，并且嫦娥和后羿也都不想離開對方。
Butoneday,oneofHouYi'sstudentstriedtostealtheelixirwhenhewasn'thome.
但有一天，后羿的一個徒弟想趁他不在家的時候來偷長生不老藥。
Inordertoprotecttheelixirfromthieves,Chang'etookthemagicelixirofimmortality.
為了保護長生不老藥不被偷走，嫦娥不得不服下了它。
Thensheflewtothemoonandbecamethemoongoddessleavingherhusbandbehind.
隨后她就飛到了月亮上，成為了月亮仙子，從此和她的丈夫分離。
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，于是向月亮獻上祭品，試圖在月亮上找到嫦娥的身影。
TorememberChang'e,Chinesepeopleworshipthemoonbyeatingfruitandmoon-shapeddesserts猜清calledmooncakes.
為了紀念嫦娥，中國人會吃水果和一種被稱為“月餅”的滿月形狀的點心，來祭祀月亮。
ThisisthelegendoftheoriginoftheMidautumnFestival,whichisalsocalled"themoonfestival".
這就是中秋節又被稱為“月亮節”由來的傳說。
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，時屆三秋之中，故謂中秋。中秋時節，氣溫已涼未寒，天高氣爽，月朗中天，為玩月最佳時令，人們多愛此時玩月，自唐以下漸演為節令，這就是中秋節的由來。
中秋節，又稱月夕、秋節、仲秋節、八月節、八月會、追月節、玩月節、拜月節梁罩棚、女兒節或團圓節，是流行于中國眾多民族與漢字文化圈諸國的傳統文化節日，時在農歷八月十五；因其恰值三秋之半，故名，也有些地方將中秋節定在八月十六。
中秋節始于唐朝初年，盛行于宋朝，至明清時，已成為與春節齊名的中國傳統節日之一。受中華文化的影響，中秋節也是東亞和東南亞一些國家尤其是當地的華人華僑的傳統節日。自2008年起中秋節被列為國家法定節假日。2006年5月20日，國務院列入首批國家級非物質文化遺產名錄。
中秋節自古便有祭月、賞月、拜月、吃月餅橡則悶檔、賞桂花、飲桂花酒等習俗，流傳至今，經久不息。中秋節以月之圓兆人之團圓，為寄托思念故鄉，思念親人之情，祈盼豐收、幸福，成為豐富多彩、彌足珍貴的文化遺產。中秋節與端午節、春節、清明節并稱為中國四大傳統節日。
中秋節來漏差歷 英語80字 帶翻譯 （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.
農歷八月侍搜茄十五日是中國的傳統節日——中秋節。在這天，每個家庭都團聚在一起，一家人共同觀賞象征豐裕、和諧和幸運的圓月。此時，大人們吃著美味的月餅，品著熱騰騰的香茗，而孩子們則在一旁拉著兔子燈盡情玩耍
"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.
中秋節最早可能是一個慶祝豐收的節日。后來，月宮里美麗的仙女嫦娥的神話故事賦予了它神話色彩。
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.
傳說古時候，天空曾有10個太陽。一天，這10個太陽同時出現，酷熱難擋。弓箭手后翌射下了其中9個太陽，拯救了地球上的生靈。他偷了長生不死藥，卻被妻子嫦娥偷偷喝老察下。此后，每年中秋月圓之時，少女們都要向月宮仙女嫦娥祈福的傳說便流傳開來。
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世紀，中秋節吃月餅又被賦予了一層特殊的含義。傳說在朱元璋帶兵起義推翻元朝時，將士們曾把聯絡信藏在月餅里。因此，中秋節后來也成為漢人推翻蒙古人統治的紀念日。
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，蒙古人統治中國。前朝統治者們不甘心政權落入外族之手，于是密謀策劃聯合起義。正值中秋將近，起義首領就命令部下制作一種特別的月餅，把起義計劃藏在每個月餅里。到中秋那天，起義軍獲取勝利，推翻了元朝，建立明朝。今天，人們吃月餅紀念此事。
寫中秋節的英語作文，80字，帶翻譯
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.
中秋是中國傳統節日之一。人們把中秋看做是家人團圓的日子因為那天的月亮是圓的。節日是在陰歷8月15的時候。此外，家人會一起吃月餅。孩子們也能做有趣的事情。他們能帶著做成各種形狀的燈籠去街上玩。
中秋節的來歷于習俗（翻譯成英語）
端午節的由來 58英語 端午節，又稱為五五節，因為端午節是在農歷的五月五端午節的習俗主要有：吃粽子于門上插艾或菖蒲驅邪，系長命縷，飲雄黃酒或
請用英語翻譯中秋節的來歷這段。
相傳，中秋節起源于嫦娥奔月的神話故事，傳說射日英雄后羿巧遇王母娘娘求得不死藥，交給愛妻嫦娥珍藏，被小人蓬蒙偷窺伺機搶奪，危急之時嫦娥吞下不死藥，無奈飛升到離地球最近的月亮上成了仙，從此后羿只能在中秋月圓之時登高，遙望月中嫦娥，并擺上圓圓的餅和圓圓的蛋品，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，每年的中秋月圓之夜就成了我國傳統的中秋節，由于中秋節以月圓為象征，所以中秋節又被稱為“團圓節”，這天人們登高吟詩、泛舟賞月、品月餅、吃團圓蛋等，共慶佳節人團圓。
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，月色皎潔，家人團聚，古人把圓月視為團圓的象征，更是以圓月來寄托深情。蛋圓似月，古往今來就是象征團圓的吉祥食品，蛋圓人團圓。中秋節素來有吃月餅和吃團圓蛋的習俗，圓圓的月餅和圓圓的蛋，是象征吉祥團圓的食品，又是中秋節人們相互表達祝福的紐帶。
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.
團圓佳節，送上一份神丹團圓蛋，品著團圓的滋味，感受思念的情濃。
Reunion festival, send a god Dan reunion eggs, with the reunion of the taste, feel the miss of love.
中秋節英語翻譯
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.、
譯文是：中秋節是中國一個古老的傳統節日。我們將在中秋節去做很多有趣的事情。
首先，我和我的家人將要去超市買水果味的月餅。然后去照看我的妹妹，和她一起去跟其他小朋友玩樂。午后，我去小攤去買點小吃。最后，我們一起去賞月。
中秋節英語：
Mid Autumn Festival
中秋節英語短文(帶翻譯)
客觀后果。客觀后個。和，經過開會上。比較就；去GOEJEGO ’AEJG‘OJA’‘RSHOJE；哦了；文科了可；啊額、可；E“了；安康社考核歷史而是、好
問中秋節的來歷80字
根據史籍的記載，“中秋”一詞最早出現在《周禮》一書中。到魏晉時，有“諭尚書鎮牛淆，中秋夕與左右微服泛江”的記載。直到唐朝初年，中秋節才成為固定的節日。《唐書·太宗記》記載有“八月十五中秋節”。中秋節的盛行始于宋朝，至明清時，已與元旦齊名，成為我國的主要節日之一。這也是我國僅次于春節的第二大傳統節日。
中秋節的來歷英文版的翻譯
一個英雄的所謂厚，一天，他走出去，與他的學生！
一名學生的所謂pengmeng ，他知道厚的妻子，換，曾根的事情，可以讓人們成為不朽！
pengmeng希望成為不朽的，所以他使用的刀，并表示要更換，如果她不想給他那個東西，她會死亡！
換不想pengmeng是一個不朽的，和她用那個東西，并成為不朽的
我的中秋節英語作文帶翻譯550字
中國，是一個歷史悠久的文明古國。然而，中國也有許多傳統節日，我最喜歡的就是中秋節，看著朦朧如水，如夢似幻的月色，吃著香甜可口的月餅，和自己的親人聊聊天，敘敘舊，心情不由得好了起來，煩惱，憂愁立刻煙消云散。
相傳在遠古的時候，天空中出現了十個太陽，后羿心地善良、機智神勇為民除害，射下了九個太陽。
人們得知了這個訊息后，都十分敬重他，拜他為師。有個叫逢蒙的人，為人奸詐狡猾，當他得知后羿的妻子嫦娥手中有一丸能使人長生不老并可升天成仙的仙丹后，也裝模做樣地拜在后羿的門下，為的就是找機會偷走仙丹。
八月十五日的夜晚，逢蒙偷偷潛入只有嫦娥一人的家里，威逼她交出仙丹。可嫦娥怕他害死無辜的百姓，眼看逢蒙就要搶到仙丹了，她一個箭步沖上去，將仙丹一口吞了下去。嫦娥飄飄悠悠地飛上了天，一直朝著月亮飛去。
老百姓們得知了這個訊息后，都很想念好心的嫦娥，在院子里擺上嫦娥平時最愛吃的點心，遙遙地為她祝福。從此以后，每年的八月十五就成了人們期盼團圓的中秋佳節。
在唐代，中秋賞月、玩月頗為盛行。宋代，民間以月餅相贈，取團圓之義。有些地方還有舞草龍，砌寶塔等活動。明清以來，中秋節的風俗更加盛行；許多地方形成了燒斗香、樹中秋、點塔燈、放天燈、走月亮、舞火龍等特殊風俗。
這是多么心曠神怡的境界啊：清涼的微風拂過發梢，空氣中彌漫著月餅與桂花的清甜香味，月光如水，靜靜地灑在平地上。
慶中秋
盼望已久的中秋佳節終于到了，人們興高采烈，以各種節目形式來歡度這個傳統節日。這天剛好是我叔叔的生日，大家一起在酒店里聚餐，慶祝生日，共度佳節。
來到酒店門口，嘩!那里人山人海，連泊車的位子都沒有了，人們把酒店都圍了個水泄不通。幸好我們預先訂好了四張桌，看到整個飯店人頭攢動，熱鬧非凡的歡樂景象，我心里特別高興，盡情地品賞著各種各樣的海鮮和名菜。
吃完晚飯，我們就到海濱泳場看花燈。這時，一輪明月高高掛在天上，又大又圓，把整個大地都照得亮堂堂的。今年的天氣特別好，九點十五分，我們來到目的地時，沙灘上已經燈火輝煌，游人如織了。我們沿著沙灘一邊觀賞一邊向前走。走進大門，“奇燈異彩耀水灣，依山伴水放珠海”的巨副對聯則提醒游人千萬不要忘記了在此賞月的大好時光。進入泳場，只見偌大的泳場里到處都是火樹銀花，奇燈異彩。游人的歡歌笑語此起彼伏。沙灘上三五成群的珠海人擺開鍋碗瓢盆，搞起燒烤；有的在沙灘上鋪開塑料紙，放上月餅、飲料等等，圍在一起，對月舉杯；有的人還手拉手跳起舞；熱鬧無比。
今天晚上的花燈令我大飽眼福，真是流漣忘返。當我們懷著愉快的心情走在回家的路上時，圓圓的月亮也悄悄地跟在我們的后面。
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.
求采納！
中秋節英語日記帶翻譯將來時
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!
中秋節的念侍來歷和習俗(中英對照)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.
農歷八月十五日是中國的傳統節日——中秋節。在這天，每個家庭都團聚在一起，一家人共同觀賞象征豐裕、和諧和幸運的圓月。此時，大人們吃著美味的月餅，品著熱騰騰的香茗，而孩子們則在一旁睜高攔拉著兔子燈盡情玩耍。
"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.
中秋節最早可能是一個慶祝豐收的節日。后來，月宮里美麗的仙女嫦娥的神話故事賦予了它神話色彩。
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.
傳說古時候，天空曾有10個太陽。一天，這10個太陽同時出現，酷熱難擋。弓箭手后翌射下了悉胡其中9個太陽，拯救了地球上的生靈。他偷了長生不死藥，卻被妻子嫦娥偷偷喝下。此后，每年中秋月圓之時，少女們都要向月宮仙女嫦娥祈福的傳說便流傳開來。
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世紀，中秋節吃月餅又被賦予了一層特殊的含義。傳說在朱元璋帶兵起義推翻元朝時，將士們曾把聯絡信藏在月餅里。因此，中秋節后來也成為漢人推翻蒙古人統治的紀念日。
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，蒙古人統治中國。前朝統治者們不甘心政權落入外族之手，于是密謀策劃聯合起義。正值中秋將近，起義首領就命令部下制作一種特別的月餅，把起義計劃藏在每個月餅里。到中秋那天，起義軍獲取勝利，推翻了元朝，建立明朝。今天，人們吃月餅紀念此事。
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.
