The symbolism that are used in Chinese Mid Autumn prayer and celebration

"The symbolism that are used in Chinese Mid Autumn prayer and celebration"

The Thing that are use for the ceremony have many symbolism where also on the altar are moon cakes and plates of pomegranates, melons, grapes, apples and peaches, all fruits that are round like the moon, and rice, wine and tea. The pomegranates and melons represent children, the apples and grapes fertility and the peaches long life.

The melons are cut open and the edges cut in jagged shapes like the petals of the lotus. Another popular fruit for the altars is the grapefruit-like pomelo, whose Chinese name, yow, is a homophone for "to have." the filling of the moon cakes: sweet bean paste or lotus seed with a boiled egg at the heart to symbolize the moon.

Beside this, a sack of yellow beans are also (offerings to the rabbit in the moon) and cockscomb flowers. If a nine-joints lotus roots are found they will be giving to the members of the imperial court to offered to the moon but since the lotus rarely produces roots that have more than two or three joints, If they are not available several roots were patched together to get the lucky number of nine.


The full moon cakes, t'uan yuan ping, were sometimes as big as a foot in diameter and often had images on the top of the three-legged toad and the rabbit of the moon. In the old time they were made out of a greyish (moon-colored) flour and arranged in a pyramid of thirteen (13 for the 13 full moons of the year). Some people eat them as soon as they are done sacrificing to the moon, while others keep them until New Year's Eve.

*

The offering commonly made are : a brown seed called Ling Ke, or Water Caltrop also known as Water Chestnut . It looks like a Chinese bat which makes it an emblem of luck. It is sometimes found carved in jade or shaped as the knob of a teapot. It is also made into a child's toy, whirled on a string which is threaded through a hole cut in the middle.

*

One of the common popular practice are offering New toiletries on the altar for Her to bless. But now in the modern day ,When the full moon rises after sunset, each woman approaches the altar, bows three times, and lights two candles and some incense. Afterwards they burn the moon nimbus and the cardboard bowl containing the paper clothes and "spirit money." burnt at the end of the ceremonies, along with the "spirit money." and paper clothes As it dies down, firecrackers are sometimes thrown into the embers to scatter the ashes to the four winds of heaven.

*

For the rest of the night, the women sit in the courtyard all night long, feasting and drinking tea and wine, some studying the moon for auguries, some composing poems about the beauty of the moon and the night, some playing the game of “Capturing the Moon,” by trying to catch her reflection in a bowl of water. Other typical foods enjoyed on this night: chicken and roast meat and Chinese char siu.

*

The round "moon cakes" eaten on this festival are symbolic of family unity and closeness. Pomelos are also eaten on this day. The Chinese word for "pomelo" or "grapefruit" is yu, which is homophonous with the word for "protection," yu, expressing the hope that the moon god give them protection. Moon gazing is another essential part of this festival.

"To The Romantic ones"

On this day, the moon is at its roundest and brightest. This is also a time for lovers to tryst and pray for togetherness, symbolized by the roundness of the moon. Unlike most other Chinese festivals, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a low-key holiday, characterized by peace and elegance.
But most importantly, Chinese believe in praying to the moon god for protection, family unity, and good fortune.

PS :

To the gir:l you may want to put New toiletries the altar for Her to bless as She endows her worshippers with beauty and aids in love relationships..... TJ