The custom and significance of eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival in English:
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. During this festival, one of the most popular customs is to eat mooncakes.
**Folklore and Significance:**
1. **Harvest Festival:** The Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally a harvest festival. The full moon symbolizes the abundance of the harvest, and eating mooncakes is a way to celebrate this prosperity.
2. **Reunion and Family Harmony:** The festival is often seen as an occasion for family reunions, and mooncakes are a symbol of unity and harmony. The round shape of the mooncake signifies completeness and reunion, much like the full moon.
3. **Romantic Love Story:** The mooncake is also associated with the romantic legend of Chang'e, the Moon Goddess. According to the tale, a man named Hou Yi shot down ten suns and was rewarded with the elixir of immortality. His wife, Chang'e, swallowed it, which caused her to become the Moon Goddess. People eat mooncakes to remember this beautiful love story.
4. **Cultural Symbolism:** Mooncakes often have symbols or inscriptions on them, which carry meanings related to luck, happiness, and longevity. For example, the character for "longevity" or "prosperity" is often featured on mooncake wrappers.
5. **Historical Significance:** During the Ming Dynasty, mooncakes were used as a means of political protest. Inscriptions or hidden messages on the mooncakes would communicate messages of resistance against the ruling regime.
In summary, the custom of eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival is rich with cultural, historical, and symbolic meanings. It represents the union of family, the abundance of harvest, romantic love, and cultural heritage.
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