Traditional Chinese Holidays The Chinese observe a wide variety of traditional and modern holidays, based both on the lunar and solar calendars.

Mid-Autumn Festival,a traditional Chinese festival, falls on the 15th day of the 8th Chinese lunar month. On the day, the moon is at its roundest and fullest, which symbolizes family reunion. The Festival was made official at the beginning of Tang Dynasty. Moon cakes were initially offerings to worship the moon goddess. Today, both eating moon cakes and appreciating the moon are considered symbols of family reunion. A famous Chinese poem goes like this, “May men live forever, sharing the beautiful moon though miles apart ”. 中秋节，中国传统节日，为每年农历八月十五。这一天月亮满 圆，象征团圆. 中秋节到唐朝初年成为固定的节日。月饼最初是 用来祭奉月神的祭品，后来人们逐渐把中秋赏月与品尝月饼， 作为家人团圆的一大象征。正如中国古时所云：但愿人长久， 千里共婵娟。

The Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar,when the moon is supposedly at its fullest and roundest. The Mid-autumn Festival dates back over 3,000 years, to moon worshipping in the Shang Dynasty. Ancient Chinese emperors worshiped the moon in the autumn, as they believed that the practice would bring them another harvest year.Mid-autumn Festival Appreciating the moon has been a custom since the Tang Dynasty (618–907). Not only the rich merchants and officials, but also the common citizens, liked appreciating the moon together at that time. Moon cakes are traditionally Chinese pastries, which is made of wheat flour and sweet stuffings such as sugar and lotus seed powder. Moon cake is a symbol of family reunion.

A Tranquil Night Abed, I see a silver light, I wonder if it's frost aground. Looking up, I find the moon bright; Bowing, in homesickness I'm drowned. ( 许渊冲译 )

The bright moon high above the sea, far apart I admire it with thee