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We celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival every year, but do you know where the Mid-Autumn Festival originated and what is the meaning of this day?
Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the important traditional holidays in many Asian countries such as Vietnam, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, taking place on the full moon day of the eighth lunar month, considered the full moon day when the moon is roundest and brightest.
According to archaeologists, the scene of people enjoying the autumn full moon festival appeared on the Ngoc Lu bronze drum dating back about 2,500 years. The stele of Doi Pagoda dated 1121 shows that since the Ly Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival was officially celebrated in the capital Thang Long with boat racing, water puppetry and lantern processions. During the Le - Trinh Dynasty, this festival was celebrated extremely lavishly in the Lord's palace.
The Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival originated from agricultural civilization. At this time, the weather is cool, farmers have finished harvesting their crops, so they organize fun, celebrate and pray for favorable weather and bountiful crops in the following season.
Vietnamese folklore explains the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival with the story of Cuoi sitting under a banyan tree. One day, a woodcutter named Cuoi went into the forest to cut firewood and was lucky enough to discover a precious banyan tree that could bring the dead back to life. He immediately dug it up and planted it in a corner of his garden. Thanks to this magical medicinal tree, Cuoi helped many people come back to life.
One day, while Cuoi was away from home, his wife was murdered by a bad guy. Thanks to the magic medicine, Cuoi saved his wife's life. However, after being brought back to life, her mind was no longer the same as before, she often forgot and became confused. One day, the wife was absent-minded, forgot her husband's instructions, used dirty water to water the precious banyan tree, causing the tree to uproot and fly up to the sky. At that moment, Cuoi returned, panicked and ran to grab the tree but could not hold on, was dragged by the tree and flew up to the moon.
Since then, on full moon nights, people looking up at the moon will see a black streak that resembles an ancient banyan tree with someone sitting under its root, that is Cuoi. The Mid-Autumn Festival is associated with the full moon, people break moon-watching parties, the image of Cuoi sitting under the banyan tree becomes more familiar, attached and becomes a symbol.
For the Chinese, the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival is related to the story of Hou Yi and Chang'e. Hou Yi was a talented archer with extraordinary strength, shooting down 9 out of 10 scorching suns, helping people escape the harsh drought. To reward Hou Yi's efforts, the Jade Emperor gave him a magical elixir that, when taken, would make him immortal. His wife, Chang'e, drank the elixir and flew to the moon.
From then on, Hou Yi often looked up at the moon to remember her. Feeling sad and missing his wife, every year on the fullest moon day, he held a ceremony to commemorate Chang'e. People also lit lanterns and admired the moon, reminding them of their story.
The Mid-Autumn Festival for the Chinese is also associated with the story of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and his concubine Yang Yuhuan. During the An Lushan Rebellion, the king was forced by his courtiers and soldiers to execute his concubine, whom they believed was the source of the chaos. Although he loved her very much, the king was forced to obey, and then felt pity and longing for her. Folklore has it that, moved by this love, the fairies decided to take the king to heaven to meet his concubine again on the brightest moonlit night of autumn. After returning to earth, the king chose the 15th day of the 8th lunar month to commemorate his beloved concubine.
There is also a story that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang went to the moon palace just to enjoy the trip. Wanting to remember that fun, when he returned, he ordered the 15th day of the 8th lunar month to hold a festival to have fun, drink wine, carry lanterns and watch the moon, making the Mid-Autumn Festival a custom.
Mid-Autumn Festival has many special meanings, not only for children but also for every member of the family and community.
Honor and remember ancestors: The Mid-Autumn Festival is also an occasion for Vietnamese people to remember their roots, respect and preserve traditional values. Activities such as offering moon cakes, holding worship ceremonies, and releasing flower lanterns all carry the profound meaning of remembering one's roots. This is also an occasion for people to express gratitude, remember their ancestors and pray for peace and prosperity.
Family reunion: One of the greatest meanings of the Mid-Autumn Festival is family reunion, enjoying mooncakes and admiring the moon together. This is the time for all members from grandparents, parents to children to sit together after busy days. Activities such as making lanterns, making mooncakes, and organizing camping help to bond the family, making feelings more lasting and deeper.
Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam is often known as Children's Festival, an occasion to show care and concern for children. Children receive gifts such as lanterns, masks, toys, and participate in fun activities such as lantern processions, lion dances, singing, etc. In addition to entertainment, these activities also help children understand and love national cultural values.
For farmers, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also an occasion to pray for a favorable and bountiful harvest. They worship the gods and organize activities to pray for peace and prosperity for the country. Customs such as making moon cakes, enjoying green rice and autumn fruits also symbolize respect and gratitude for nature.
TB (according to VTC)