Today is the the 15th day of the the 8th Chinese lunar month and it is when the Chinese celebrate the Mid-autumn Festival 中秋節. This is a day the Taoists worship the moon goddess. It is the birthday of the earth god (T'u-ti Kung) and prayers are also offered to this deity.
The Chinese believe in praying to the moon goddess for protection, family unity, and good fortune. The round shaped mooncakes which are now synonymous with this festival are symbolic of family unity and closeness. Besides mooncakes, pomelos are also associated with thei festival. The Mandarin word for pomelo is "yu" (柚), which is homophonous with the word for "protection"(祐).
Long ago in China, the people there take part in a moon gazing activity during this festival. It is believed that on this day, the moon is at its roundest and brightest and so couples who want a romantic time together can sit under the canopy of the starlit sky and gaze at the moon and wish for togetherness as symbolized by the roundness of the moon.
The Chinese believe in praying to the moon goddess for protection, family unity, and good fortune. The round shaped mooncakes which are now synonymous with this festival are symbolic of family unity and closeness. Besides mooncakes, pomelos are also associated with thei festival. The Mandarin word for pomelo is "yu" (柚), which is homophonous with the word for "protection"(祐).
Long ago in China, the people there take part in a moon gazing activity during this festival. It is believed that on this day, the moon is at its roundest and brightest and so couples who want a romantic time together can sit under the canopy of the starlit sky and gaze at the moon and wish for togetherness as symbolized by the roundness of the moon.
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