MIDAUTUMN FESTIVAL 2016 FULL

By the time of the Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127 AD), Mid-Autumn Festival had already become a widely celebrated folk festival.

MIDAUTUMN FESTIVAL 2016 FULL

So August 15th of the Chinese lunar calendar, the closest full moon day to the Autumnal Equinox, turned out to be a better choice and was set as a fixed festival. The people expressed their faith more liberally than the royal class and so they did not strictly hold their activities on the Autumnal Equinox. Later in the Sui (581 - 618 AD) and Tang (618 - 907 AD) dynasties, social prosperity inspired the custom of appreciating the moon on the moon sacrifice ceremony day among common people and the two merged. At that time, the custom had no festival background at all. This custom could be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty (1046 - 256 BC) and was more often practiced by the royal class on the Autumnal Equinox. Hence, to express their thanks to the moon and celebrate the harvest, they offered a sacrifice to the moon on autumn days. The ancient Chinese observed that the movement of the moon had a close relationship with changes of the seasons and agricultural production. Mid-Autumn Festival is an inherited custom of moon sacrificial ceremonies. In Taiwan, the one day holiday falls on the festival day. However, it is not scheduled on the festival day, but the following day and it is usually not connected with the weekend. In Hong Kong and Macau, people also enjoy one day off. People in mainland China enjoy one day off on the festival which is usually connected with the weekend. 1 - 7) and will prolong this holiday to Oct. Tea and moon-gazing included!Ī once-in-a-blue-moon Saturday night out! Enjoy live music, dance, a range of drop-in activities and unexpected treats…all fuelled by drinks from our licensed bar.National Day holiday (Oct. Explore the multiple meanings and legends of the moon from well-known Tang poems to contemporary verse and celebrate China’s relationship with both poetry and the moon. Get to know your Li Bai from your Du Fu in this special session with poet Jennifer Wong. Saturday 17 Sep – Masters of the Lunar Verse, Chinese Poetry at China Exchange

Get creative with this pop-up workshop led by artist and sculptor Zack McLaughlin. In Europe, we may be encouraged to see a man in the moon but in China, we’d be seeking the rabbit in the moon. By the end of this workshop you’ll be able to see one too – in your hands at least! Create your very own wire rabbit to take home to that special somebunny, in this fun three-hour workshop. Saturday 17 Sep – The Rabbit in the Moon – Wire Rabbit Workshop Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Enjoy this day with your friends and family, try a moon cake and take some time to admire the moon!įriday 16 Sep – The Evolution of Erhu: An Evening with Wan Pin Chu & FriendsĪ Friday evening concert for you to immerse yourself in the beautiful song of the erhu as Wan Pin Chu returns to China Exchange to take us on a chronological journey from early traditional pieces through to contemporary digital sounds with special appearances from his musical friends. This year the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Thursday 15 September – here’s what’s happening at China Exchange:

For many Chinese, the moon symbolises prosperity, peace and reunion.ĭuring this holiday families travel home to be together, typically enjoy a large reunion dinner and spend time admiring the full moon. The second most important holiday after Chinese New Year, traditionally this festival marks harvest and celebrates the harvest moon – seen to be the brightest and fullest moon of the year. The Mid-Autumn Festival is held every year on the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar and is celebrated with a three day holiday in China.

Midautumn festival 2016