Chapter 169 Mid-Autumn Festival

August 13th to 15th is the Mid-Autumn Festival, commonly known as the August Festival.It got its name because it happened to be in the middle of three autumns.On this day, the street market is prosperous, and autumn fruits are on the market, which is particularly abundant.When the fifteenth month is full, set up a "moonlight horse" in the courtyard, and put melons and fruits, moon cakes, edamame branches, cockscombs, radishes, lotus root, watermelon and other products.The whole family gathers to worship the moon, and most families hope that the moon and the people will be in the same circle on this festival, which is called "full moon".However, men generally do not bow down during the month offering, "Men do not worship the moon, and women do not worship the stove".

After the month offering is over, family members sit together and drink wine to enjoy the moon. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called "Reunion Festival".The moon cakes for offering sacrifices to the moon are cut into pieces according to the number of people, and they are called "Reunion Cakes". The legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival is basically well-known: According to legend, one year in ancient times, ten suns appeared in the sky, and they were so scorching that smoke rose from the earth and the sea dried up. It seemed that the common people could no longer live.This incident alarmed a god named Hou Yi, who took his wife Chang'e down to the top of Kunlun Mountain, and with all his supernatural power, he drew his divine bow and shot down nine superfluous suns in one go.

Hou Yi made great achievements and was respected and loved by the people, but the sun is the son of God, so God forbids him and Chang'e to go to heaven again.Hou Yi shot and killed evil beasts in the world, specializing in doing good deeds.One day, Hou Yi went to Kunlun Mountain to visit friends and ask for enlightenment. He happened to meet the Queen Mother who was passing by, so he asked the Queen Mother for a pack of elixir.It is said that taking this medicine can immediately ascend to heaven and become an immortal.But if two people share the food, they can only live forever and cannot go to heaven.Hou Yi was reluctant to leave his wife behind, so he temporarily handed over the elixir to Chang'e for collection.One day, when Hou Yi led his disciples to go hunting, Chang'e couldn't stand the life on earth, so she betrayed her husband, took out the elixir and swallowed it in one gulp.Chang'e swallowed the medicine, and immediately floated off the ground, rushed out of the window, and flew to the sky.Since the gods laughed at Chang'e, Chang'e could only fly down to the moon.

In the evening, when Hou Yi returned home, the maids cried and told what had happened during the day.Hou Yi, distraught, looked up at the night sky and called his beloved wife's name.At this time, he was surprised to find that today's moon is particularly bright and bright, and there is a swaying figure that looks exactly like Chang'e.Hou Yi hurriedly sent someone to Chang'e's favorite back garden, set up an incense table, put her favorite honey and fresh fruit, and held a remote memorial ceremony for Chang'e who was sentimentally attached to him in the moon palace. Since then, the custom of worshiping the moon on Mid-Autumn Festival has spread among the people.Now the Mid-Autumn Festival is still a major festival that people generally celebrate.