what is chinese moon festival

The Chinese Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, which usually corresponds to mid-September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. On this day, the Chinese believe that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of autumn. The festival is an opportunity for families to gather and appreciate the moon, and it is seen as a symbol of family reunion. Traditional activities include lighting lanterns, eating mooncakes, and worshiping the moon goddess and other deities. Mooncakes are a traditional Chinese pastry that are round in shape and sweet in flavor, symbolizing completeness and sweetness. The festival is also associated with the legend of Change, the goddess of the moon, who is said to have flown to the moon.