bā yuè shí wǔ八月十五wèi shén me为什么chéng成le了zhōng qiū jié中秋节
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month every year.
On this day, Chinese people reunite with their families, eat mooncakes, and admire the full moon in the sky.
However, many people may not know that before the Tang dynasty, there was actually no festival called the “Mid-Autumn Festival.”
So, why did the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month become an important festival?
First, it is related to the weather and nature.
Ancient people felt that summer was too hot and winter was too cold, while autumn nights were the best time to look at the moon.
In the middle of autumn—on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month—the moon in the night sky often looks especially round and bright.
Many poets in the Tang dynasty liked to gather together on this day, drinking wine, writing poetry, and admiring the moon.
Second, it is related to people’s feelings.
During the Tang dynasty, the country went through wars, and many people left their hometowns and wandered from place to place.
When facing the difficulties of life, people would naturally think of their loved ones far away and hope for the whole family’s safety when they looked up and saw the round moon in the sky.
Gradually, the full moon in the sky came to carry the beautiful meaning of “family reunion.”
By the Song dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival had officially become a lively nationwide festival.
There were night markets in the streets, and every household set out a feast for everyone to celebrate together.
Today, the Mid-Autumn Festival has a history of more than one thousand years.
It is not only an ancient tradition, but also a reminder: no matter how far we go or how busy we are with work, when we see the full moon in the sky, we should not forget the warmth of our families.