Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important traditional Chinese festivals, falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, Oct 1 this year. The day is also known as the Moon Festival, as at that time of the year the moon is at its roundest and brightest. It is an evening celebration where families gather together to light lanterns, eat mooncakes and appreciate the round moon – a symbol for family reunion.
Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations date back more than 2,000 years. The word "Mid-Autumn" first appeared in the famous ancient book,Zhou Li, a book revealing the rituals in the Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC). In 2006, the festival was listed as intangible cultural heritage.
From Monday to Oct 5 an online event,Mid-Autumn Festival: A Moonmoment to Remember, will be launched to celebrate this special day. Hosted by the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the activity is jointly organized by the Network of International Culturalink Entities, overseas China Cultural Centers and China Tourism Offices.
The event centers on inheritance of Mid-Autumn Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival culture, contemporary China and Mid-Autumn Festival, and travel and leisure during the festival. Activities will include online exhibitions and concerts, short video displays, streaming and mini training classes.