The Mid-Autumn Festival is a Chinese holiday that falls on the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar’s eighth month, the day of the full moon. It is, therefore, a movable holiday; the Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 falls on Thursday, September 17. It is also called the Festival of the Moon, as the moon is its most important symbol. It’s a time for relaxation and family gatherings, which involves stopping work in companies and factories. What exactly is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and how does it affect imports from China?
Mid-Autumn Festival 2024
What are the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival?
The legend of the love between archer Hou Yi and his wife Chang’e is associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Hou Yi saved mankind from death by shooting down ten suns from the sky and leaving only one. He was given the elixir of immortality as a reward for his merits. He left it at home and set off on his own to carry out further tasks.
At that time, his disciple Feng Meng tried to steal the potion. To prevent the precious item from falling into the wrong hands, Hou Yi’s wife drank the potion herself. She then floated until she reached the moon and became its goddess.
When Hou Yi returned and found out what had happened, he called her name and searched the sky for her until he noticed the shadow of her figure on the moon. He set up a table in the garden, placed delicacies and fruit on it, and then gazed at the moon, thinking how to reunite with his beloved.
This unfortunate story is said to have given rise to the Mid-Autumn Festival, at the center of which the moon still remains. The white rabbit, which accompanies the goddess and symbolizes longevity, is also an important symbol.
How do the Chinese celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival?
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a family holiday where relatives gather and eat in the moonlight. An important part of the holiday is offering symbolic gifts for Chang’e, such as mooncakes and fruits, on a specially prepared table.
It is said to be the day when the moon is closest to Earth, so Chinese people go out to admire its beauty. During this time, it’s popular to solve puzzles attached to lanterns and watch dragon dance performances.
One of the culinary customs of the day is eating mooncakes (yuèbĭng) and giving them to others as a gift. Traditionally, they were filled with sweet red bean paste, but nowadays, you can find different versions, such as savory, nutty, and fruity.
Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 and doing business in China
An important note is that in addition to September 17, the day on which the Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 falls, the Chinese also have the two days preceding the holiday, September 15 and 16, off.
It is important to remember that the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important holidays for the Chinese. During this time, they are not engaged in work but focus on spending time with their families. When working with Chinese suppliers, you need to consider this and plan your deliveries accordingly.
It is worth remembering this when planning business trips to China around this time and preparing for travel difficulties or temporarily halted contact. If we want to strengthen ties with our business partner further and show that we remember the important days for him, we can also present him with a box of quality mooncakes—such a gesture will surely be appreciated.
See the 2024 China Holidays Calendar.
Graphic: Freepik