The origin of Mid-Autumn cake betting in Xiamen and the origin and customs of Fujian Mid-Autumn cake betting

The origin of Xiamen Mid-Autumn Festival Bo Cake

Bo Cake (Ba Cake) originated from Gulangyu Island, Xiamen, Fujian Province. It began in the early Qing Dynasty. It is a unique mooncake culture and is also a Fujianese An inheritance of history. According to legend, the Mid-Autumn Festival cake game was invented by Zheng Chenggong when he was stationed on Gulangyu Island to alleviate the soldiers' Mid-Autumn lovesickness and encourage morale. As a result, it was passed down from generation to generation and has become a unique folk custom in southern Fujian today.

It is a unique custom of Xiamen people to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with relatives and friends gathering to play cake betting. It is said that more than 300 years ago, Zheng Chenggong occupied Xiamen to fight against the Qing Dynasty. Most of his soldiers came from Fujian, Guangdong and other places. Around the Mid-Autumn Festival, they became more and more homesick for their hometown. In order to relieve the soldiers' worries, boost morale, and expel the Dutch colonists to regain Taiwan, Zheng's general Hong Xu worked with the staff of the rear government office stationed at No. 33-44 of Hong's headquarters in Xiamen after some deliberation. The Mid-Autumn Festival cakes were designed to allow all soldiers to fight happily on the cool Mid-Autumn night.

The Mid-Autumn Festival custom of playing cake games and winning the top prize has been spread among the people in Xiamen for more than 300 years. The lively and interesting unique customs make the Mid-Autumn Festival in Xiamen a grand festival second only to the Spring Festival. Every year around the Mid-Autumn Festival, cake shops in Xiamen mass-produce cakes and supply them on the market, and every household will buy them.

In recent years, people have made more innovations in the traditional "cake betting" game. The "bet" is no longer just about "cake", but also about using various foods according to people and circumstances. Or daily necessities instead of "moon cakes", which adds to the fun and appeal of this ancient folk game.

When the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches every year, Xiamen citizens take to the streets to buy prizes for "the number one scholar", which always sets off a shopping craze. Relatives, friends, colleagues, and clients, everyone sat in groups in front of flowers and under the moon. There was a large porcelain bowl in the middle of the table. There were six dice in the bowl. Everyone took turns rolling the dice, and according to the color of the dice, they won prizes ranging from "scholar" to "number one scholar". of various prizes. Amidst the clanking of the dice, champions were produced one after another, and people's excited cheers spread in the streets and alleys, adding a strong festive atmosphere to the beautiful Ludao.