中华万年历

中秋节，又称月夕、秋节、仲秋节、八月节、八月会、追月节、玩月节、拜月节、女儿节或团圆节，是流行于中国众多民族与汉字文化圈诸国的传统文化节日，时在农历八月十五。中秋节以月之圆兆人之团圆，为寄托思念故乡，思念亲人之情，祈盼丰收、幸福，成为丰富多彩、弥足珍贵的文化遗产。中秋节与春节、清明节、端午节并称为中国四大传统节日，2006年5月20日，国务院将其列入首批国家级非物质文化遗产名录，2008年起中秋节被列为国家法定节假日。

中秋节起源于上古时代，普及于汉代，定型于唐朝初年，盛行于宋朝以后。中秋节是秋季时令习俗的综合，其所包含的节俗因素,大都有古老的渊源。关于中秋节的起源，主要有几种说法：

一是源于古代对月亮的崇拜。古人在秋季举行祭月仪式，以感谢月神赐予丰收，这种祭月习俗逐渐演变成为中秋节。《礼记》中记载："天子春朝日，秋夕月。"说明早在周代，帝王就有春分祭日、秋分祭月的习俗。

二是与农业生产有关。八月十五正值秋收时节，农作物和各种果品陆续成熟，农民为了庆祝丰收，表达喜悦的心情，就以"中秋"这天作为节日。中秋正值三秋之半，故名"中秋节"。

三是嫦娥奔月的神话传说。相传远古时期，天上出现十个太阳，烤焦了庄稼，英雄后羿射下九个太阳，为民除害。西王母赐给他不死之药，其妻嫦娥偷吃了仙药，不由自主地飞上了月宫。后羿思念妻子，在月圆之夜摆上香案，遥祭月宫中的嫦娥。百姓闻知后，纷纷在月下摆设香案，祈求平安吉祥。从此，中秋节拜月的风俗在民间流传开来。

四是与吴刚伐桂的传说有关。传说月亮中有一棵高五百丈的桂树，汉朝西河人吴刚因学仙时不遵道规,被罚在月宫伐桂,但桂树随砍随合,永远砍不倒。李白诗云："欲斫月中桂,持为寒者薪。"这个传说使中秋赏月更增添了神秘色彩。

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, Autumn Festival, Mid-Autumn Day, August Festival, Moon-Chasing Festival, Moon-Worshipping Festival, or Reunion Festival, is a traditional cultural festival popular among many ethnic groups in China and countries within the Chinese cultural sphere, celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. The Mid-Autumn Festival uses the full moon as a symbol of family reunion, expressing longing for hometown and family, praying for harvest and happiness, making it a rich and precious cultural heritage. Together with the Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival, it is one of China's four major traditional festivals. On May 20, 2006, the State Council listed it in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage. Since 2008, the Mid-Autumn Festival has been designated as a national legal holiday.

The Mid-Autumn Festival originated in ancient times, became popular during the Han Dynasty, took shape in the early Tang Dynasty, and flourished from the Song Dynasty onward. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a synthesis of autumn seasonal customs, and most of its festival elements have ancient origins. There are several main theories about the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival:

First, it originated from ancient moon worship. Ancient people held moon-worshipping ceremonies in autumn to thank the moon god for bestowing harvest, and this moon-worshipping custom gradually evolved into the Mid-Autumn Festival. The "Book of Rites" records: "The emperor worships the sun in spring and the moon in autumn," indicating that as early as the Zhou Dynasty, emperors had the custom of worshipping the sun at the spring equinox and the moon at the autumn equinox.

Second, it is related to agricultural production. The 15th of the 8th month falls right during the autumn harvest season, when crops and various fruits successively ripen. Farmers celebrated the harvest and expressed their joy by making this "Mid-Autumn" day a festival. Mid-Autumn falls exactly at the midpoint of the three autumn months, hence the name "Mid-Autumn Festival."

Third is the mythological legend of Chang'e flying to the moon. According to legend, in ancient times, ten suns appeared in the sky, scorching the crops. The hero Houyi shot down nine suns, eliminating harm for the people. The Queen Mother of the West gave him an elixir of immortality, but his wife Chang'e secretly consumed it and involuntarily flew to the moon palace. Missing his wife, Houyi set up an incense table on the night of the full moon to worship Chang'e in the moon palace. After hearing this, people also set up incense tables under the moon, praying for peace and good fortune. From then on, the custom of worshipping the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival spread among the people.

Fourth is related to the legend of Wu Gang cutting the cassia tree. Legend has it that there is a cassia tree in the moon, five hundred zhang tall. Wu Gang, from Xihe during the Han Dynasty, was punished to cut down the cassia tree in the moon palace for not following the rules while learning immortality, but the tree heals as it's cut, never falling. Li Bai wrote in a poem: "Desiring to cut the cassia in the moon, to serve as firewood for the cold." This legend added even more mysterious color to Mid-Autumn moon appreciation.