The Mid-Autumn Festival originated in the early Tang Dynasty and became popular in the Song Dynasty. It is now one of the traditional Chinese festivals, second only to the Spring Festival. So, on which day of the lunar calendar is the Mid-Autumn Festival? What is the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival? Let's take a look at the following content!

On what day of the lunar calendar is the Mid-Autumn Festival?

Gregorian calendar: October 1, 2020, Thursday
Lunar calendar: The fifteenth day of the eighth month of the year Gengzi
The heavenly stems and earthly branches of the baby born on this day are: Gengzi Year, Yyou Month, Dingchou Day
From the perspective of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements: Gengzi Year (Metal-Water), Yyou Month (Wood-Metal), Dingchou Day (Fire-Earth)
Therefore, the baby born on this day has all five elements

The Origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival

        The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Moon Night, Autumn Festival, Zhongqiu Festival, August Festival, August Meeting, Chasing Moon Festival, Playing Moon Festival, Worshiping the Moon Festival, Daughter Festival or Reunion Festival, is a traditional cultural festival that is popular among many Chinese ethnic groups and countries in the Chinese character cultural circle. It falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Because it occurs halfway through the autumn season, it is called Mid-Autumn Festival. In some places, the Mid-Autumn Festival is set on the 16th day of the eighth lunar month.
        There are many explanations about the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The term "Mid-Autumn" first appeared in the "Rites of Zhou". According to the "Record of Monthly Ordinances" in the "Book of Rites", it says: "In the month of mid-autumn, feed the elderly and provide porridge." One theory suggests that it originated from the sacrificial activities of ancient emperors. According to the "Book of Rites", it is recorded: "The emperor greets the sun in spring and worships the moon in autumn," where "worshipping the moon" refers to the worship of the moon. This indicates that as early as the Spring and Autumn Period, emperors had already begun to worship the moon and pay homage to it. Later, nobles, officials, and scholars followed suit, gradually spreading to the common people.
        Another theory states that the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival is related to agricultural production. Autumn is the season of harvest. The meaning of the word "autumn" is: "When crops mature, it is called autumn." In the eighth lunar month, crops and various fruits are gradually matured. Farmers celebrate the harvest and express their joy, so they use the day of "Mid-Autumn" as a festival. "Mid-Autumn" means the middle of autumn. The eighth lunar month is the middle month of autumn, and the fifteenth day is the middle day of that month. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival may have been inherited from the ancient custom of "autumn offering".         During the Tang Dynasty, people lived comfortably, the country was peaceful, and they had a lot of spare time and money to hold various activities. The Mid-Autumn Festival coincided with the clear weather of autumn and the slack period of farming work, so this festival became very important during the Tang Dynasty. The imperial court and officials hoped to use this festival to demonstrate their achievements. In the "Preface to the Chang'an Moon-Watching Poems" by the Tang Dynasty poet Ou Yangzhan, it is written: "Autumn comes after summer and before winter; the eighth month of autumn is the beginning of the end of the season; the fifteenth night is the middle of the moon. According to the principles of heaven, the cold and heat are balanced; according to the number of the moon, the moon is full." In terms of timing, it is in the middle, which conforms to our Confucian idea of moderation; in terms of weather, it is comfortable and not too hot or cold, and the moon is full, so watching the moon on the fifteenth of the eighth lunar month became a custom.
        During the Northern Song Dynasty, the eighth lunar month fifteenth was officially designated as the Mid-Autumn Festival, and there appeared "small cakes like mooncakes, with su and yí inside." Later, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the customs of this festival were inherited, and the festival activities became even more diverse, including guessing riddles and watching lanterns.
Although time is changing, the world is becoming faster and faster every day, but our traditions continue to be passed down. Whether it is the high-ranking officials or the common people in the countryside, the festival always brings a sense of longing and a feeling of reunion.
What festivals are there in autumn?
Solar Terms
Start of Autumn: The sun is at 135 degrees, the solar term occurs between August 7-9
Limit of Heat: The sun is at 150 degrees, around August 23, indicating that the heat ends here, and precipitation gradually decreases
White Dew: The sun is at 165 degrees, the solar term occurs between September 7-9
Autumn Equinox: The sun is at 180 degrees, the solar term occurs between September 23-24
Cold Dew: The sun is at 195 degrees, the solar term occurs between October 8-9
Frost's Descent: The sun is at 210 degrees, the solar term occurs between October 23-24
Festivals
The fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month: Mid-Autumn Festival
The ninth day of the ninth lunar month: Double Ninth Festival
October 1st of the Gregorian calendar: National Day