Anciently, "Mid-Autumn" referred to the eighth month of the lunar calendar, as the eighth month is the second month of autumn. Does Jiangxi Ji'an have the custom of burning towers during the Mid-Autumn Festival? What are the taboos in the Mid-Autumn Festival customs? Want to know more about the Mid-Autumn Festival, come to Huayi Network to see.

Jiangxi Jia'an, do they burn towers during the Mid-Autumn Festival?

In the Jia'an area of Jiangxi, there is a custom of burning towers during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Every year on the 14th day of the eighth lunar month, people from each village in He Shi will be assigned to build the tower. The height of the tower is generally around 1.5 meters, and the size of the tower depends on the size of the village. The base of the tower must be built with bricks, and most of the body of the tower is made of broken tiles, accounting for about three-quarters of the height of the tower. Then it is covered with tiles and stacked to form the top. There should be two doors at the bottom of the tower, one in front for adding fuel and one at the back for removing ashes. In the evening, the tower is set on fire (large villages can burn for three nights, while small villages will at least burn on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival). The fuel is straw and rice husks, mainly collected by young people who go from house to house with gongs and drums. When the fire is strong, incense powder is sprinkled to enhance the flame, creating a spectacular scene.
According to legend, after the Yuan Dynasty ruled China, it implemented various discriminatory policies, deprived the people of many rights, and adopted monitoring measures to monitor people's activities. The Yuan rulers grouped five households into a "jia", and appointed a Mongolian nobleman as the head of the "jia". Mongolian nobles abused their power in the countryside, extorting money from the people. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Yellow River suffered continuous floods, prices rose, and people were displaced. Some patriotic figures rose up in resistance and made secret arrangements: on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, they would use tiles to build towers in open areas and set them on fire as signals for action, to overthrow the heads of the "jia". From then on, burning towers became a traditional custom of the Mid-Autumn Festival and has been passed down.

What are the taboos of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the folk tradition?

1. Avoid men participating in moon worship
The Mid-Autumn Festival has the custom of worshipping the moon, but only women are allowed to participate, because the moon is traditionally associated with females and is considered yin. Therefore, to avoid offending the moon deity, men are not advised to take part in moon worship.
2. Avoid covering the forehead
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, when appreciating the moon, it is best to pull your hair behind or to the sides of your forehead, and never let your forehead be covered by your hair, because this is where your "spirit lamp" is located, which can protect you on a yin day.
3. Avoid pointing at the moon
During the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival, pay attention not to point at the moon with your finger, because the Mid-Autumn Festival is also a moon worship festival, and the moon is an object of worship. Pointing at the moon with your finger is a very disrespectful act.
4. Avoid weak individuals from appreciating the moon
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, those who are physically weak are not recommended to appreciate the moon outdoors. Especially women who have recently had a miscarriage or just given birth should avoid looking at the moon, even if they are on their own balcony.
5. Avoid those with poor luck from appreciating the moon
People whose luck is currently low, have bad moods, or are experiencing misfortune, such as career setbacks, relationship problems, work dissatisfaction, family issues, failed exams, or business losses, are advised not to appreciate the moon.
6. Avoid those who have not yet "warming up" their new home from appreciating the moon
Those who have recently moved into a new house but have not yet "warming up" (i.e., moving in) should avoid appreciating the moon. Additionally, those who feel that their health or luck has worsened after moving should also be cautious about appreciating the moon.
7. Avoid eating non-round foods
The meaning of the Mid-Autumn Festival is reunion, so round foods should be eaten during the festival. Even if you need to cut the food, it should be cut into a crescent-shaped lotus pattern. Dishes should be served in round plates and bowls, and non-round foods should not be eaten.