Mid-Autumn Festival Origin and Legend Summary in English
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is one of the most important traditional festivals in China, celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. This festival has a rich history and various legends associated with it.
**Origin:**
The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival dates back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). It was initially celebrated as a harvest festival to express gratitude to the gods for a bountiful harvest. Over time, it evolved into a time for families to gather, appreciate the full moon, and offer respect to their ancestors.
**Legends:**
1. **Moon Godess Chang'e's Ascension to the Moon:**
The most popular legend revolves around the Moon Goddess Chang'e. According to the tale, there was a powerful elixir in the palace that was supposed to make anyone who drank it immortal. When the greedy Emperor, wanting to rule the world forever, took it, it made him float up into the sky, transforming him into the Sun God. Desperate, his wife, Chang'e, drank the remaining elixir and also ascended into the sky. Since then, Chang'e has lived on the moon, where she lights the moon with her silver mirror, leaving only a shadow of herself.
2. **Hou Yi Shooting theNine Suns:**
In ancient times, the sky was full of nine suns. The world was suffering from severe drought and heat. A skilled archer named Hou Yi saved the people by shooting down eight of the nine suns. The grateful Emperor, to reward Hou Yi for his bravery, presented him with the elixir of immortality. However, Hou Yi shared it with his wife, Chang'e. As mentioned above, Chang'e's consumption of the elixir led to her flight to the moon.
3. **Qingming Festival Connection:**
There is another belief that the Mid-Autumn Festival is related to the Qingming Festival. The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is the time when people honor their ancestors by cleaning their graves and offering them food and other necessities. It is said that Chang'e came to the world during this period to visit her parents. When the world celebrated the Qingming Festival, Chang'e was also looking at the earth from the moon.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, families come together to enjoy mooncakes, a special pastry that symbolizes abundance and harmony. People also appreciate the beauty of the full moon and celebrate the legends associated with this special occasion. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time of joy, unity, and respect for traditions and history.
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