The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated across Asia, from China and Japan to South Korea, Vietnam and Singapore. Here’s what to know
How Different Countries in Asia Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival
The moon rises in the sky during Mid-Autumn Festival at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, Oct. 1, 2020.he Mid-Autumn Festival is observed by millions of people across East Asia on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. This means the festival date changes every year in the Gregorian calendar, but it is always around the time of theCertain activities, like moon gazing and displaying lanterns, are popular across several Asian countries—as is the symbol of a rabbit on the moon.
The mythology says that in ancient times the Earth had 10 suns, which scorched the world. A celebrated archer named Hou Yi drew his bow and shot nine of the suns down, saving humanity. For his heroic act, the gods gave him the pill of immortality, which he handed to his wife Chang’e for safekeeping. However, one of his followers, Peng Meng, tried to steal the pill while Hou Yi was out hunting—so Chang’e swallowed it to prevent it from falling into Peng Meng’s hands.