A festival where the moon plays a shining role

Poetry has given the lunar light a special romantic and emotional significance

By FANG AIQING | China Daily | Updated: 2024-09-17 07:21
Share
Share - WeChat
SONG CHEN/CHINA DAILY

It could be arguably assumed that as one ages, their emotional bond with the moon intensifies, bearing that imaginable vision in mind, extra clear in the dead of night, of themselves and their beloved ones, no matter how distant, sharing the same moonlight.

When they've seen more of life's vicissitudes and fatalistic loneliness, the moon's solid companionship becomes even more precious, just as the unwavering support they draw from the family behind them and their roots, whose gentle gaze shimmers like moonlight piercing the darkness.

In the Chinese Lunar Calendar, there are three major celebrations of a full moon, a metaphor of the completeness brought along by a family reunion.

The first of a brand-new year, the Lantern, or Yuanxiao Festival, is when the year gone becomes past and with that pure, round moon hanging in the night sky rising hope is infused into new year resolutions, and one feels determined and omnipotent to bring their family a better taste of life.

The seventh full moon, called the Zhongyuan Festival or the "Ghost Festival", is to mourn lost ones with an unspoken wish for their spirits knocking at the door or visiting in dreams.

Due to the many connotations with which people have endowed autumn through the ages, both joyful and sorrowful, the Mid-Autumn Festival is only just barely overshadowed by the bustle of Spring Festival, and is constantly referenced in literature and art.

1 2 3 4 5 Next   >>|
Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US