农历八月十五,是我国传统的中秋节,也是我国仅次于春节的第二大传统节日
八月十五恰在秋季的中间,故谓之中秋节
我国古历法把处在秋季中间的八月,称为“仲秋”,所以中秋节又叫“仲秋节”
ThejoyousMid-AutumnFestivalwascelebratedonthefifteenthdayoftheeighthmoon,aroundthetimeoftheautumnequinox(秋分)
Manyreferredtoitsimplyasthe"FifteenthoftheEighthMoon"
Thisdaywasalsoconsideredasaharvestfestivalsincefruits,vegetablesandgrainhadbeenharvestedbythistimeandfoodwasabundant
Foodofferingswereplacedonanaltarsetupinthecourtyard
Apples,pears,peaches,grapes,pomegranates(石榴),melons,orangesandpomelos(柚子)mightbeseen
Specialfoodsforthefestivalincludedmooncakes,cookedtaro(芋头)andwatercaltrope(菱角),atypeofwaterchestnutresemblingblackbuffalohorns
Somepeopleinsistedthatcookedtarobeincludedbecauseatthetimeofcreation,tarowasthefirstfooddiscoveredatnightinthemoonlight
Ofallthesefoods,itcouldnotbeomittedfromtheMid-