Festival · 节日

Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节)

Full moon, family reunion, mooncakes.

Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节) on lunar 8/15 — the autumn full moon — is the year's second-biggest holiday after Lunar New Year. Families gather to share mooncakes (月饼), gaze at the full moon, and tell the story of Chang'e (嫦娥), the moon goddess.

When does Mid-Autumn Festival fall?

• 2026 — Friday, September 25, 2026 (2026年9月25日)
• 2027 — Wednesday, September 15, 2027 (2027年9月15日)
• 2028 — Tuesday, October 3, 2028 (2028年10月3日)

Traditions

Mooncakes (月饼)

Round pastries with rich fillings (lotus paste, red bean, salted egg yolk). The round shape mirrors the full moon and symbolizes family wholeness.

Moon gazing (赏月)

Families set up a small altar in the courtyard or balcony with offerings and admire the full moon together.

Lanterns

Children carry paper lanterns through the streets — especially in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Pomelo (柚子)

A traditional fruit eaten at Mid-Autumn — its name 柚 puns with 佑 ("blessing").

Common questions

What date is Mid-Autumn 2026?

Mid-Autumn 2026 falls on Friday, September 25, 2026 (lunar 8/15).

Why are mooncakes so heavy?

Traditional mooncakes are dense pastries packed with thick lotus or bean paste and salted egg yolks — meant to be cut into small wedges and shared, not eaten in one bite.

What's the story of Chang'e?

Chang'e (嫦娥) was a mortal woman who drank the elixir of immortality and floated up to the moon, where she lives with a jade rabbit. Her husband Houyi (后羿) leaves offerings for her every Mid-Autumn.