Wishing You a Perfect Life just like the Roundest Moon on Mid-Autumn Day

The Mid-Autumn Festival (traditional Chinese: 中秋節; simplified Chinese: 中秋节) is an important harvest festival celebrated by China and many neighbouring countries.  The festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar (September or early October), during the full moon close to the autumn equinox. The festival as an "intangible cultural heritage" and the festival is celebrated among family and friends throughout China.

Chinese people believe that a full moon is a symbol of peace, prosperity and family. On Mid-Autumn Festival night the moon is said to be the brightest and fullest, which is why the festival is also known as the "Moon Festival". The origin of the celebration dates back to moon worship in the ancient Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC).

As with many ancient traditions, many legends have been passed down through the generations to explain the importance and origins.

The Zhuang people share romantic story about the sun and moon, in which they are a couple and the stars are their children, and when the moon is “pregnant”, it becomes round, and then becomes crescent after giving birth to a “child”.  On this evening, it is popular to give offerings to the moon and the lunar deity - Chang’e the Moon Goddess of Immortality. 

According to Chinese mythology:

In the ancient past, there was a hero named Hou Yi who was an excellent archer.  Once upon a time, ten suns rose in the sky creating great disaster here on Earth.  Yi shot down nine of the suns and left one to provide light. An immortal admired Yi and sent him the elixir of immortality. Yi did not want to leave his wife, Chang'e, to be immortal without her, so he asked her keep the elixir. However, one of his apprentices knew about the secret, and on the fifteenth of August in the lunar calendar, the apprentice broke into Yi's house and tried to force Chang'e to give up the elixir.  Instead, she drank it, became immortal, and flew into the sky towards the moon. When Yi returned home to discover what had happened, he was so distraught that he presented his wife’s favorite fruits and cakes in the yard and gave sacrifices for his wife. The people joined their hero in this act of homage.

During this festival, through the years, families throughout China celebrate with various traditions. The most common traditions are gazing at the moon, eating moon cakes and making Chinese Mid-Autumn Lanterns.  The Moon cake is a symbol of family reunion. Children make lanterns of different shapes and float them on the rivers until the light of the lanterns disappears. 

Above all, the festival represents a time for family gathering, appreciation and worship.  One can hear Chinese people throughout the country happily greeting one another as they head home:

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 中秋快乐!

Wishing you and your family a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!  祝你和你的家人中秋快乐!

Wishing us a long life to share the graceful moonlight, though thousands of miles apart.   但愿人长久，千里共婵娟!

A bright moon and stars twinkle and shine. Wishing you a merry Mid-Autumn Festival, bliss, and happiness.  皓月闪烁，星光闪耀，中秋佳节，美满快乐！

The Mid-Autumn Day approaches. Although I am far from home, I have conviction in my mind. I wish my family happiness and blessings forever.  一年中秋又来到，远在他乡的我，心中只有一个信念－－祝家中的亲人们永远幸福安康！

Sweet cakes will be served with my blessings. Wish you a successful life and a bright future.   送上香甜的月饼，连同一颗祝福的心...愿你过的每一天都象十五的月亮一样成功 !

Wishing you a perfect life just like the roundest moon on Mid-Autumn Day.  愿你的生活就象这十五的月亮一样，圆圆满满

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