"May we all be blessed with longevity. Though miles apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together." wrote by Su Shi, a poet (诗人) during the Song Dynasty, in his well-known poem to his younger brother Su Zhe.
The moon is the brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. On this day, people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. It has been enjoying great popularity all over the country.
In ancient China, that day was a harvest (丰收) festival because crops were harvested during that period. It was a time to relax and celebrate (庆祝). Just like Thanksgiving in Western countries, families also try to see each other on the Mid-Autumn Festival in China. So no matter (无论) how far away, Chinese people will go back home.
The Mid-Autumn Festival has its own special food just as other traditional Chinese holidays. People eat mooncakes with fillings such as sugar and eggs. The round shape of the cake makes it look like the full moon. The full moon and mooncakes mean family reunion (团聚).
With the beautiful moon up in the sky that night, family sit together to enjoy the moon together. Also, they express the best wishes for the family members who live far.
