Why do you eat moon cakes on Mid-Autumn Festival? What are the customs?

The origin of the custom of eating moon cakes in Mid-Autumn Festival

Moon cakes, also known as Hu cakes, palace cakes, cookies, moon cakes, reunion cakes, etc. It is an offering to worship the moon god in the ancient Mid-Autumn Festival, and the custom of eating moon cakes has been formed since it was handed down.

Moon cakes have a long history in China. According to historical records, as early as the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, there was a kind of "Taishi cake" to commemorate Taishi Wenzhong, the "ancestor" of China moon cakes. Zhang Qian introduced sesame seeds and walnuts to the Western Regions in Han Dynasty, which added auxiliary materials for making moon cakes. At this time, a round cake filled with walnuts appeared, which was called "Hu cake".

In the Tang Dynasty, people had bakers engaged in production, and pastry shops began to appear in Chang 'an, the capital. It is said that one Mid-Autumn Festival, when Tang Xuanzong and Yang Guifei enjoyed the moon and ate Hu Bing, Tang Xuanzong thought the name Hu Bing was not pleasant to listen to. Yang Guifei looked up at the bright moon, and her heart surged, and she came to "moon cakes" at hand. Since then, the name of "moon cake" has gradually spread among the people.

The royal family in the Northern Song Dynasty likes to eat a kind of "palace cake" in the Mid-Autumn Festival, commonly known as "small cake" and "moon group". Su Dongpo has a poem: "Small cakes are like chewing the moon, crisp and pleasing."

The writers of the Song Dynasty were very thorough. They mentioned the name "moon cake" in "Old Wulin" and described what they saw in Lin 'an, the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty.

In the Ming Dynasty, eating moon cakes in the Mid-Autumn Festival gradually spread among the people. At that time, ingenious bakers printed the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon's fairy tales on moon cakes as food art drawings, making moon cakes a necessary food for Mid-Autumn Festival.

Mid-Autumn Festival in the Story

There are many legends about Mid-Autumn Festival handed down, many of which have become household myths. The Goddess Chang's fly to the moon

According to legend, in ancient times, there were ten days in the sky at the same time, and the crops were all sunburned and the people were miserable. A hero named Hou Yi has infinite power. He sympathized with the suffering people, climbed to the top of Kunlun Mountain, exerted his divine power, drew his bow, shot down more than nine suns in one breath, and ordered the last one to rise and fall on time for the benefit of the people.

Hou Yi was respected and loved by the people. He married a beautiful and kind wife named Chang 'e.

Many people with lofty ideals came here to study as teachers, and Meng Peng with ulterior motives joined in.

One day, Hou Yi happened to meet the Queen Mother and asked her for a pack of elixirs. It is said that taking this medicine can instantly ascend to heaven and become immortal. However, this medicine can only be taken by one person, and Hou Yi was reluctant to leave his wife, so he had to temporarily give the elixir to Chang 'e. Chang 'e hid the medicine in the dresser's treasure chest, but the villain Meng Peng saw it. He wants to steal the elixir to make himself immortal.

Three days later, Hou Yi led his entourage out hunting, while Meng Peng with ulterior motives pretended to be ill. Shortly after Hou Yi led the crowd to leave, Meng Peng broke into the backyard of the back room with a sword in his hand, threatening Chang 'e to hand over the elixir. Chang 'e made a decisive decision and swallowed it herself. With that, Chang 'e immediately floated off the ground and flew into the sky. Because Chang 'e was worried about her husband, she flew to the nearest moon and became a fairy. Hou Yi was heartbroken when she learned that, so she had to send someone to Chang 'e's favorite back garden, put on a table sweetmeats, put on her favorite honey-made fresh fruits, and offer sacrifices to Chang 'e at a distance. When the people heard about it, they also set up a table sweetmeats to offer sacrifices to Chang 'e at a distance under the moon. Since then, the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival in Yue Bai has spread among the people. WU GANG won.

There is also a legend about the Mid-Autumn Festival: It is said that osmanthus trees in front of Guanghan Palace on the moon are flourishing, reaching more than 500 feet. There is a man who often cuts down, but every time he finishes cutting, the cut place closes immediately. For thousands of years, this laurel tree can never be cut down. It is said that this tree-chopping man named WU GANG, a native of Xihe in Han Dynasty, once went to heaven with the immortal, but when he made a mistake, the immortal banished him to the Moon Palace and did this kind of hard work in vain every day as a punishment. In Li Bai's poems, there is a record that "if you want to be in the middle of the month, you will pay for the cold." Zhu Yuanzhang uprising

It is said that eating moon cakes in the Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Yuan Dynasty. At that time, the broad masses of the people in the Central Plains could not bear the cruel rule of the ruling class in the Yuan Dynasty and rose up against the Yuan Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang joined forces with various resistance forces to prepare for the uprising. However, the officers and men of the imperial court searched very closely and it was very difficult to pass on the news. Liu Bowen, a military strategist, came up with a plan and ordered his men to hide a note with the words "Uprising on the 15th of August" in the cake, and then sent people to the uprising troops in different places to inform them to respond to the uprising on the 15th of August. On the day of the uprising, all the rebels responded together, such as a single spark can start a prairie fire.

Soon, Xu Da captured the Yuan Dynasty and the uprising was successful. When the news came, Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed and quickly sent a message saying that all the soldiers should have fun with the people in the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, and they should give the "moon cakes" secretly sent at the time of the war as seasonal cakes to the ministers. Since then, the production of "moon cakes" has become more and more elaborate, and there are more and more varieties, such as dishes, which have also become good gifts. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the custom of eating moon cakes spread among the people.

2 The origin of the custom of eating moon cakes in Mid-Autumn Festival

Tracing the Mid-Autumn Festival

According to historical records, the word "Mid-Autumn Festival" first appeared in the book Zhou Li. But it was not until the early years of the Tang Dynasty that the Mid-Autumn Festival became a fixed festival. The Book of Emperor Taizong recorded the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15. But it was not until the Song Dynasty and the Mid-Autumn Festival that it became popular. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was as famous as New Year's Day, and it was the second largest traditional festival in China after the Spring Festival.

According to the China calendar, the eighth month of the lunar calendar is in the middle of autumn, and the second month of autumn is called "Mid-Autumn Festival", and August 15th is in the middle of it, so it is called "Mid-Autumn Festival". There are many nicknames for Mid-Autumn Festival: August Festival, August and a half, Mid-Autumn Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and so on. Because the main activities of Mid-Autumn Festival are around the "moon", the moon is round and symbolizes reunion, so it is also called "Reunion Festival".

The word "Reunion Festival" was first seen in the Ming Dynasty. "Journey to the West Lake" says: "August 15th is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and people send moon cakes to show their reunion". "A Brief Introduction to the Scenery of the Imperial Capital" also said: "On August 15th, the moon was sacrificed, the cakes were round, the melons were wrongly divided, and the petals were carved with lotus flowers. ..... Those who have a wife who returns to Ning will return to her husband's family one day, also known as the Reunion Festival. " On the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, there is a custom of "reunion" in most parts of our country, that is, flipping a small cake symbolizing reunion, which is similar to a moon cake. The cake contains sugar, sesame, sweet-scented osmanthus and vegetables, and the moon, sweet-scented osmanthus tree and rabbit are pressed outside. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the elders at home will divide the cake into pieces according to the number of people, and each person will have one. If someone is not at home, leave one for them to show family reunion.

Mid-Autumn Festival custom in Asian country Japan: Don't eat moon cakes.

The Mid-Autumn Festival in Japan is also called Taro Month and Chestnut Month. On this day, the Japanese put autumn grasses such as Miscanthus, Lespedeza, and cauliflower in bottles to hold fruits and glutinous rice dumplings. The Japanese call this bright moon bean bright moon. Because now is the soybean harvest season, which means the soybean harvest sacrifice. Only on this day, the Japanese allow outsiders to steal potatoes from their own fields, thinking that this is a good thing. Many children brazenly steal offerings from their neighbors with bamboo poles with nails. Japanese also have the custom of enjoying the moon on this day, which is called "see you on the moon" in Japanese.

The Japanese custom of enjoying the moon originated in China. /kloc-After it was spread to Japan more than 0/000 years ago, the local custom of holding a banquet while enjoying the moon began to appear, which was called "Moon Watching Banquet". Unlike China people who eat moon cakes in the Mid-Autumn Festival, Japanese people eat zongzi while enjoying the moon, which is called "looking at zongzi on the moon". Because this period is the harvest season of various crops, in order to express gratitude to nature, the Japanese will hold various celebrations. Although Japan abolished the lunar calendar and changed to the solar calendar after the Meiji Restoration, the custom of enjoying the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival is still maintained in all parts of Japan, and some temples and shrines will hold special parties to enjoy the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival. Vietnam: children play the leading role

Unlike the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival focuses on children. There are all kinds of moon cakes, colorful lanterns, colorful children's toys and other holiday foods and toys with different tastes in the market, and children's faces are full of yearning for festivals. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, lantern festivals will be held all over Vietnam, and the design of lanterns will be evaluated and the winners will be rewarded. In addition, some places in Vietnam will organize lion dance activities during festivals, usually held on the evening of August 14th and 15th of the lunar calendar. During the festival, local people sit on balconies and yards, or go out with their families, put on snacks such as moon cakes and fruits, enjoy the moon and taste delicious moon cakes. The children are carrying all kinds of lanterns and playing in small groups.

With the gradual improvement of Vietnamese people's living standards in recent years, the custom of the Millennium Mid-Autumn Festival has quietly changed. Many young people get together at festivals or at home, sing and dance, or go out to enjoy the moon together to enhance understanding and friendship between peers. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam, in addition to the traditional family reunion accident, is adding new connotations and is gradually favored by young people. Singapore: Tourism Becomes the Leading Role

Singapore is a country with an overwhelming Chinese population and has always attached great importance to the annual Mid-Autumn Festival. For Chinese in Singapore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a godsend opportunity to connect feelings and express gratitude. Friends, relatives and business partners exchange moon cakes to express greetings and wishes.

Singapore is a tourist city, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to attract tourists. As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches every year, the local famous Orchard Road, Singapore Riverside, Chinatown and Yuhua Garden are all newly renovated. At night, the lights are on, and the whole street is red and exciting. Malaysia, Philippines: The float parade is unprecedented.

Eating moon cakes, enjoying the moon and carrying lanterns are the Mid-Autumn Festival customs handed down from generation to generation by Chinese in Malaysia. With the approach of Mid-Autumn Festival, time-honored merchants from all over Malaysia have launched various kinds of moon cakes. There are mooncake counters in major shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur, the capital, and mooncake advertisements in newspapers and TV stations are overwhelming, creating a festive atmosphere to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Chinese communities in some places in Kuala Lumpur recently held lantern parades to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. In addition to dragon and lion dances, floats carrying Chang 'e and the Seven Fairies roam among them, and artists and young people in bright clothes sing and dance, which is very lively.

Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival that overseas Chinese living in the Philippines attach great importance to. Chinatown in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is very lively, and local overseas Chinese hold activities to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Lanterns are hung on the main commercial streets of overseas Chinese communities, colorful banners are hung on the main intersections and bridges entering Chinatown, and many shops sell all kinds of moon cakes made by themselves or imported from China. Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, including dragon dance parade, national costume parade, lantern parade and float parade, attracted a large number of spectators and filled the historic Chinatown with a cheerful festive atmosphere. South Korea: Shopping at the right time.

South Korea's Mid-Autumn Festival is called "Autumn Evening", which is a big holiday that lasts for three days. In the past, when the traffic was underdeveloped, people would use this time to return home to visit relatives. Nowadays, before every autumn night, major Korean companies will cut prices to attract people to shop and give gifts to each other.