Mid-Autumn Festival
The Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival (Chinese中秋节/中秋节, Pinyin Zhongqiujie ) It is committed in Asia on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the traditional Chinese calendar. In ancient times, the emperor sacrificed to the moon in spring the sun and autumn. Already in the history books of the Zhou dynasty (ca. 11th century to 256 BC) is to find the word " Mid-Autumn ". Later, the nobles and writers followed the example of the Emperor and admired the bright full moon in autumn. In the Tang Dynasty ( 618-907 ), the Ming and the Qing Dynasty ( 1368-1911 ) was one of the most important festivals in China.
The festival is also in South Korea (where it is called Chuseok ) and Vietnam ( Tết Trung Thu ) celebrated. In Japan there is also an equivalent festival called Tsukimi.
Traditionally, moon cakes with different fillings such as sweet, salty, with meat or vegetarian filling, eaten at the Moon Festival. In Taiwan this everywhere on the roads within the family and with neighbors together grilled (Chinese烤肉/烤肉, Pinyin Kǎoròu ). In addition, pomelos 'll like given away, which also remember their shape at the full moon.
Mythological Background
There are several legends to Moon Festival. After the Moon Festival originates from the legend of Chang'e Benyue Chinese嫦娥奔月to the archer Hou Yi ago. In the past, there were ten suns, Xihe born of the sun goddess Xi He羲 和, three-legged birds called阳 乌, yángwū or金 乌, Jinwu that one day gathered and dry up the earth and left to wither in the harvest. Hou Yi ascended the summit of Kunlun Mountain, shot down nine suns and ordered the last sun, on time every day to rise and set.
From a goddess Hou Yi had gotten a pill of immortality. His wife Chang'e嫦娥, Chang'e swallowed the medicine and then floated up to the moon. There, she built a palace where she lives since.
Dates
- 2008: September 14
- 2009: October 3
- 2010: September 22
- 2011: September 12
- 2012: September 30
- 2013: September 19
- 2014: September 8
- 2015: September 27
- 2016: September 18