Festive glow: Hongkongers look to the heavens as they celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. Its origins can be traced back almost 2,500 years to the Zhou dynasty (1046-256 BCE), when kings were said to worship the goddess of the moon and ask for good luck, according to Food and Festivals of China (2006) by Yan Liao.

Women have traditionally been put in charge of organising the festival because “the full moon represents the fullness of the yin element”, and they represent the yin force among humans, Liao states.

An altar might be set up in the family courtyard so that sacrifices can be made to the moon. Round fruits are eaten because they symbolise fullness and unity. All these activities are supposed to take place after nightfall so the moon can be seen throughout.

Part of the event’s purpose is to celebrate the upcoming harvest. It is also said to be a time for people to celebrate marriage, as well as for young people to attend matchmaking events such as dances.

Tu’er Ye (rabbit god) is an important icon for the festival in Beijing because he is the moon rabbit of Chang’e (Chinese goddess of the moon), who features in a story that has been used to explain the festival’s origins.

It is said that her archer husband Hou Yi shot down nine of the world’s 10 suns, leaving one, after they scorched the earth. He was given the elixir of immortality as a reward, but apprentice archer Fengmeng broke into his home and tried to force Chang’e to give it to him.