NEWS//Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day

Beginning today (October 1), China celebrates two annual holidays: Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day. The two festivals don’t always coincide, but they do this year. It is Golden Week. For many in China, today begins an eight day holiday.

Mid-Autumn Festival

For centuries, Chinese have believed that the moon is at its brightest and fullest on the 15th day of the eighth month of China’s lunar calendar. Traditionally, the day was set aside to worship their moon goddess, Chang’e, and to celebrate the harvest. Today, three concepts continue to mark the Mid-Autumn Festival:

• The gathering together of family, as well as crops.

• Thanksgiving for the harvest and for close, loving relationships.

• Prayer for material satisfaction.

Below is a three-minute video about China’s Mid-Autumn Festival.

National Day

On October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China first celebrated the forming of the Central People's Government of their new country (China’s independence day was September 21st 1949).

For more information: Mid-Autumn Festival; 11 Mid-Autumn Festival Facts You Should Know; 10 Unexpected Fun Facts about Mid-Autumn Festival You don’t Know; National Day’s origin; An Introduction to China’s National Day Holiday

UPDATE: China's 'golden' holiday begins amid regular epidemic control http://www.china.org.cn/.../2020-10/02/content_76773124.htm