Memorable Moments of Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival: My Experience
The Mid-Autumn Festival is an important traditional festival in China, also known as the Moon Festival. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which falls in September or October in the Gregorian calendar. This festival is full of happy memories for me, as I have been celebrating it since I was a child. In this essay, I will share some of my experiences and memorable moments of celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival over the years.
The Meaning Behind Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival has a special meaning in Chinese culture. It is a time for family reunions, as well as a time for expressing gratitude and wishing for good fortune. The festival is also closely associated with moon worship, as it is believed that the full moon on this day is the symbol of unity and completeness. The moon is also a symbol of beauty, harmony, and peace.
Traditional Customs and Practices
One of the traditional customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival is eating mooncakes. Mooncakes are a kind of special food eaten during the festival. They are round, symbolic of completeness, and come in various flavors like lotus seed paste, red bean paste, and salted egg yolk. Another popular custom is carrying lanterns. Children often carry colorful lanterns in various animal shapes and sizes during the festival, making the streets brightly lit and lively.
Memorable Moments of Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival
As a child, I remember being excited about the Mid-Autumn Festival. The anticipation of getting mooncakes, carrying lanterns, and spending time with my family made the festival all the more special. I would usually spend the evening with my parents and grandparents, eating mooncakes and watching the full moon. We would often sit outside, under the bright moonlight, enjoying the festivities.
One of my fondest memories of the festival was when I was seven years old. My parents took me to a park to celebrate the festival. The park was crowded with people carrying lanterns of different colors and shapes. My parents bought me a lantern shaped like a rabbit, which was my favorite animal at the time. I was overjoyed and carried it around the park, admiring the lanterns and enjoying the carnival atmosphere.
Another memorable moment happened when I was in college. I was studying abroad and was unable to travel back home for the festival. However, my Chinese friends and I decided to celebrate the festival together, despite being far away from our families. We bought mooncakes, lit candles, and drank tea while admiring the moon. It was a comforting experience, and I felt grateful to have friends who shared the same cultural background as me.
Reflections on the Festival
As I grew older, I began to appreciate the Mid-Autumn Festival more deeply. It became less about the excitement of receiving mooncakes and carrying lanterns, and more about the joy of spending time with my loved ones. The festival became a reminder of the importance of family, of unity, and of appreciating the beauty of nature.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Mid-Autumn Festival holds a special place in my heart. It is a festival that has brought me many happy memories over the years, from childhood excitement to college nostalgia. As I continue to celebrate the festival with my family and friends, I look forward to creating new experiences and cherishing the values that the festival represents.
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