The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon 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 with a full moon at night, corresponding to mid-September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. In 2023, the Mid-Autumn Festival will fall on September 29th.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, and its popularity is on par with that of Chinese New Year. 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. People celebrate the festival by gathering with family and friends for moon gazing at parks, solving lantern riddles, and enjoying mooncakes.
In mainland China, the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday is three days long, and in Hong Kong, people get one day off from work to celebrate the festival. The Hong Kong Mid-Autumn Festival holiday in 2023 falls on September 29th. The festival is also celebrated in other cultures in East and Southeast Asia, such as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
