The Origin of Mid-Autumn Festival

　　The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times when the festival was used to worship the moon and express people''s longing for family reunions.

In ancient China, the Mid-Autumn Festival was originally a harvest festival, which was held to celebrate the bounty of nature and the fruits of labor. As time went by, the festival gradually evolved into a festival to pay tribute to the moon and express people''s longing for family reunions. It is believed that the Mid-Autumn Festival was first established during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), when people began to enjoy mooncakes and appreciate the beauty of the moon under the bright moonlight.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion and appreciation. On this day, people usually gather together to eat mooncakes, admire the bright moon and share stories about the legend of the Moon Festival. Mooncakes are an essential part of the festival, which are round in shape and symbolize completeness and reunion. People also offer fruits and incense to the moon to pay tribute to it.

According to legend, there are many stories about the Mid-Autumn Festival. One of them is about Chang''e, the Moon Goddess. It is said that Chang''e ascended to the moon after drinking an elixir of immortality provided by her brother Hou Yi, who also shot down nine suns in one go to save the world. Chang''e became the Moon Goddess and lives on the moon with her bunny companion. This legend has become an important part of Mid-Autumn Festival culture and is often told during this time of year.

In addition to family reunion and moon appreciation, there are also various folk activities around the Mid-Autumn Festival, such as dragon dance performances, lantern riddles, and singing competitions. These activities add to the joyous atmosphere of the festival and allow people to have fun and enjoy themselves.

In conclusion, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese festival that has a long history and rich cultural connotation. It is a time for family reunion, moon appreciation, and various folk activities that bring joy and happiness to people. With its unique cultural significance and folk customs, the Mid-Autumn Festival has become an important part of Chinese cultural heritage and has attracted more attention from people around the world.