Do you know about Mid Autumn Festival?
Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节) in Chinese, is also called the Mooncake Festival or the Moon Festival.
As the second most important festival in China after CNY, Mid-Autumn is an official public holiday. Usually, Chinese people celebrate it by gathering for dinners, worshiping the moon, lighting paper lanterns, eating moon cakes.
It is also celebrated by many other countries, such as US (mainly in the Asian American community), Singapore, and Malaysia.
But why Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated?
The Mid-Autumn Festival has a history of over 3,000 years. It was a royal sacrificial ceremony associated with moon worshiping and agricultural activities. People worshiped the moon to give thanks for the harvest and to encourage the "harvest-giving light" to return in the coming year. The changes in the lunar phases provided guidance for the farming schedule; therefore, people believed that worshiping the moon could bring a good harvest.
In modern times, most people have sufficient food supplies, but the Mid-Autumn Festival is still significant because the full moon during the festival is a symbol of family reunions. As the festival evolved over time, it has gained additional meanings and now includes prayers for good health and happiness.
How to celebrate in Hong Kong?
1. Tai Hang's Fire Dragon Dance
Every Mid-Autumn Festival, the quaint neighbourhood of Tai Hang comes alive as a glowing dragon — carried by over 300 performers — dances through the streets for three nights. This fascinating tradition of Hong Kong dates back to the 19th century, when residents of the then small Hakka village combated a plague with a fire dragon dance, accompanied by roaring gongs and drums. Today, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is officially listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, and continues to attract crowds for the blazing spectacle each year.
When: 16-18 September 2024
https://www.taihangfiredragon.hk/Home.html
2. Mid-Autumn Urban Carnival and Lantern Exhibition at Victoria Park
One old tradition of Mid-Autumn Festival is to light and hang lanterns. During the period of the festival, there are usually lantern carnivals throughout Hong Kong, but the largest and most popular carnival is found in Victoria Park in Causeway Bay.
3. Yuen Long 'Lantern Street'
Ahead of the Mid-Autumn festival, a large number of citizens go to buy their favorite traditional lanterns at 'Lantern Street' in Yuen Long District's Tai Kiu Market. You will see thousands of traditional, handcrafted lanterns, resembling everything from rabbits and goldfish to fruits and other traditional designs.
4. Tsim Sha Tsui Lantern Exhibition
If you want to see an awesome lantern display in Hong Kong, don't miss the amazing Lantern Exhibition in Tsim Sha Tsui near the Waterfront Promenade. It's just around the corner from the Star Ferry Terminal and the TST metro station.
5. Temple Mall Presents Moonlight Neonade
Temple Mall's Moonlight Neonade is a unique Mid-Autumn Festival celebration to help support and promote the development of local artisanal traditions. At Temple Mall North, you will see a giant 3D neon light exhibition that traces the lunar phases from new moon to full moon. It is a combination of traditional workmanship and innovative technology.
Which one is your favorite?
Thanks to How to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong 2024? (chinahighlights.com)