Macau Lifestyle
  • What's On

    Categories

    • Giveaways
    • Entertainment

    Recent Stories

    Noite e Dia Cafe Christmas Buffet Dinner Turkey
    Festive Feastings, New Year Menus & More at Hotel Lisboa!
    Events & Promotions
    Lisboa Bend 90 degree turn macau grand prix
    69th Macau Grand Prix: Hotel Lisboa’s Fiery Grand Prix Packages
    Events & Promotions
    Macau Lifestyle Wynn Macau Croiffle and Cruffin afternoon tea outdoors2
    Win an Exquisite Afternoon Tea Set at Café Esplanada
    Giveaways
  • Dining

    Categories

    • Restaurants
    • Local Eats
    • Cafes
    • Bars
    • Chef Spotlight

    Recent Stories

    Voyages by Alain Ducasse_Gin Trolley
    Where to Have Gin & Tonic in Macau
    Bars
    pho tik pho peach tea macau lifestyle
    Delicious Noodles & Where to Eat Them in Macau
    Local Eats
    Baked Pork Chop Rice rossio mgm macau copy
    Eight Must-Try Dishes at MGM MACAU You Don’t Want to Miss
    Dining
  • Lifestyle

    Categories

    • Wellness
    • Weddings
    • Family
    • People

    Recent Stories

    hac-sa-reservoir-park
    Top 10 Things to Do With Kids in Macau
    Family
    Macau Lifestyle Macallan 12 MAC_2018_DC12_NEAT_Lifestyle_Photo_RGB
    Whisky Review: The Macallan Single Malt Whisky Double Cask Range
    Lifestyle
    steve-mccurry
    The Best of Two Worlds: The Macallan Single Malt Whisky Double Cask Range
    Lifestyle
  • Culture

    Categories

    • Arts
    • Heritage & History
    • Architecture
    • Artist Spotlight
    • Local Knowledge

    Recent Stories

    hac-sa-reservoir-park
    Top 10 Things to Do With Kids in Macau
    Family
    st regis bar macao Tastemaker
    Where to Find Delicious Whiskey-Based Cocktails in Macau
    Bars
    Old Postcard circa 1900 from Macau Antique Postcards by Joao Loureiro
    Bela Vista Hotel: From Lavish Hotel to Wartime Refuge
    Culture
  • Style

    Categories

    • Fashion
    • Jewelry & Watches
    • Beauty
    • Home

    Recent Stories

    Wayuu Bag Macau
    Businesses in Macau: Taking Ideas to the Next Level
    Culture
    Longines Master Collection Now Shines in Macau
    Longines Master Moonphase Now Shines in Macau
    Jewelry & Watches
    Clara Brito on a Fashion Shoot
    Clara Brito: Taking Action Through Fashion
    Fashion
  • Travel

    Categories

    • Macau
    • China
    • Asia
    • Oceania
    • Europe

    Recent Stories

    hac-sa-reservoir-park
    Top 10 Things to Do With Kids in Macau
    Family
    Macau city
    A Stopover Guide: 24 Hours in Macau
    Travel
    Kenji Rukkit Gus graffiti street art outloud festival praca ponte e horta art one day macau
    One Day in Macau: Art Itinerary
    Arts
  • Hong Kong

    Categories

    • What's On
    • Dining
    • Things to Do
    • Hotels

    Recent Stories

    Grand Hyatt HK_French GourMay Staycation (3)
    French GourMay at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Offers a Bespoke Culinary Trip to France
    Dining
    The Upper House Salisterra Main Dining Room
    Salisterra Showcases Exquisite Mediterranean Cuisine at The Upper House Hong Kong
    Dining
    Artist Wu Yi – Tang Contemporary gallery- Macau Lifestyle WY1
    Wu Yi: A Painter’s Painter
    Artist Spotlight
  • City Guide
  • 繁中
Local Knowledge
by Janet Lin

6 Incredible Facts About Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-autumn festival rabbit

Mid-Autumn Festival is taking place soon and it is always a beautiful and meaningful celebration. Like the Spring Festival, it is an important reunion holiday when Chinese families travel home to spend time together. The legend behind it is about a pretty fairy called Chang Er, who lives on the moon with a rabbit. It may sound quirky but this is what the Chinese associate with Mid-Autumn Festival (as well as mooncakes and lanterns of course). Here are a few fun things you might not know about the Mid-Autumn Festival.

mid-autumn festival mooncake gambling

Mooncake Gambling in Xiamen

China is vast and boasts ethnic and cultural diversity across the country so it is no surprise that many Mid-Autumn Festival traditions have different local characteristics. In Xiamen, a coastal city in southeastern China, you will hear the rattling and clattering of rolling dice on every corner in the city, which is a 300-year-old custom called “Mooncake Gambling”. Legend says that Zheng Chenggong, a general of the Ming Dynasty, who stationed his army in Xiamen, invented this game to alleviate the soldiers’ homesickness and perk up the troops during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Players throw six dice by turns. Different scores win the player a relevant “title” and a corresponding type of reward (this used to be mooncakes but these days it’s just something like a cash prize).

Mid-autumn festival full moon

Admire the Full Moon

It is said that full moon appears on the sixteenth day of the month on the lunar calendar, so it is more appropriate to enjoy the beauty of the full moon a day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, not on the day or before. Remember to look up during this time as the moon is always bright and beautiful during this period.

Mid-autumn festival riddle

Guessing lantern riddles

Chinese people of all ages (especially children) actively participate in solving riddles written on lanterns or on slips of paper attached to lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival. People must guess the answer by pondering the multiple meanings of the words and phrases that make up the riddle. Sometimes, a hint may be provided when people fail to figure out the answer, such as to indicate whether the answer is a person, place, thing, or reasoning. The answer often contains a fortune and delivers good wishes to everyone. The classic riddles refer to Chinese characters, idioms, historical figures, literary references, or names of cities and other locations in China. Currently, residential communities in China organize lantern riddle activities during the Mid-Autumn Festival and rewards include daily necessities such as shampoo, tissues, or snacks. Schools and educational institutions also have the same game during the festival in a bid to relieve the students’ stress.

Mid-autumn barbecue Taiwan

Barbecue in Taiwan

In Taiwan, the celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival is completely different from the mainland and Hong Kong. Every family usually has a barbecue at open-air places like patios or just go to barbecue restaurants. This custom derives from a commercial advertisement of soy sauce. In the mid-1980s, a soy sauce company called Wan Ja Shan launched a barbecue sauce commercial with the slogan, “The aroma of barbecue from a family permeates to thousands of households,” which became widely known. Shortly after that, barbecue celebrations became a hit in Taiwan and many other barbecue related brands came out to compete. So get ready to surround yourself with savory hunks of meat, aromatic aromas and sizzling steaks if you’re celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan.

Mid-autumn festival matchmaker

China’s second Valentine’s Day

During ancient times, there was a god in China called “the old man in the moon,” who was kind of a matchmaker. On this full moon night, singles pray for true love and marriage by going to matchmaker temples to worship him and pray for themselves. Meanwhile, couples would spend time with their partners or spouses and enjoy a romantic time together.

mid-autumn festival pomelo

Pomelo rinds on the heads

The eighth lunar month is also the season for pomelo fruit. A superstitious saying dictates that if you put pomelo rinds on your head, the fairy Chang Er who lives on the moon will see it from the moon and answer prayers for pregnancy. The reason is that the pronunciation in Chinese of “pomelo” sounds similar to having a son.


MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL 2021

Mid Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. Festive vibes permeate the town where main streets are decorated with colorful lanterns to welcome the Festival. As one of the most celebrated festivities in Chinese culture and so in Macau, the Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes a time for a family reunion. Locals enjoy eating mooncakes and offer this sweet pastry as a gift to relatives and friends as a tradition for this occasion.

On the Mid-Autumn Festival, families gather for a joyful dinner followed by a night out admiring the beautiful full moon. Others may enjoy a picnic in the garden, by the lake or beach, having mooncakes and fruits in a season under the moonlight while children play around with glittery lanterns in hand.

When: September 21, 2021

Where: Across town

How much: Free admission

For more information, check here

Tags

  • culture
  • Macau Activities
  • Macau events
  • Mid-autumn festival
  • Travel Macau
  • What's On Macau
  • Whats On

Related Posts

hac-sa-reservoir-park
Family

Top 10 Things to Do With Kids in Macau

st regis bar macao Tastemaker
Bars

Where to Find Delicious Whiskey-Based Cocktails in Macau

The Venetian Macao at Night Credits Pexels
Culture

Gambling in Macau: Dealing Chips & Luck Since the 19th Century

Trending Posts

Cuppa Coffee Macau
Dining, Local Eats

Good Morning Macau: Best Cafes for Breakfast

st regis papinee manor Oyster Bar
Dining, Restaurants

Macau’s Best Boozy Brunches

Dining, Local Eats, Restaurants

Macau’s Best Buffets

Macau's Best Steakhouses SW Steakhouse- Wagyu Braised Beef Cheeks
Dining, Restaurants

Macau’s Best Steakhouses

  • Editor's Picks

    ladies night macau Bars

    Where My Ladies At: The Best Ladies’ Night Offers in Macau

    From free-flow champagne to free Prosecco bottles, check our list of the best ladies’ night offers in Macau.

    Salvador Dali Alice in Wonderland Macau Lifestyle hidden artwork Macau Arts

    Art Masterpieces in Macau You Did Not Know Existed

    Some pieces of art are in the most prominent spots, but there are some artwork that remain hidden in Macau. Here’s where you can find them!

    Cuppa Coffee Macau Dining

    Good Morning Macau: Best Cafes for Breakfast

    As breakfast is the most important meal of the day, here’re our favorite cafes in Macau to head to for a hearty breakfast!

    Wayuu Bag Macau Culture

    Businesses in Macau: Taking Ideas to the Next Level

    Macau is a small city, but it sure has a lot of new businesses popping up. We rounded up a list of cool businesses to check out and support!

    start line photo Lifestyle

    Top Running Routes in Macau

    Make the effort to get up 30 minutes earlier from tomorrow onwards and check out any of these stunning running routes in Macau.

    The Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge Gin Collection Bars

    Best Places for Happy Hour in Macau

    After a long day at work, you need a relaxing place to unwind. We have the best places in Macau for happy hour deals on drinks and snacks!

    Zics Macau Brand Source Facebook page Fashion

    Macau Fashion Brands: Celebrate Local Design

    Discover some Macau fashion brands that are making waves due to the fabulous designers behind each of their fresh and genius creations.

    Flora Garden playground Family

    The Best Playgrounds for Kids in Macau

    Macau is full of parks and leisure areas that feature some amazing play areas. Here’s a list of the best playgrounds in Macau for the tykes!

    Maria do Leste Bloody Mary from St Regis Macao Updated Photo 2020 Bars

    Shaken or Stirred: Macau’s Best Cocktails

    The world of mixology often proves to be as diverse and surprising as the one of gastronomy. Exercising talent and immense creativity, Macau’s bartenders keep creating signature cocktails that impress us with both flavors and presentation. If you are tired and bored with mojitos and negronis and need tips on what else to try, check out our guide to Macau’s best cocktails. 

    sound-of-century-vintage-sound-machines-museum Arts

    Macau’s Quirkiest Museums

    When art and history collections are inspected, it’s time to learn things that even locals might not know. Read on to plan a visit to Macau’s quirkiest museums.

    Pataca currency Local Knowledge

    The Pataca Story: The Peculiar History of Macau’s Currency

    The Pataca is special as not many countries the size of Macau would have their currency. Read on to find out about the origins of the Pataca.

    sw-steakhouse-barcounter-cocktails-macau-wynn-palace Bars

    SW Steakhouse Bar at Wynn Palace: Home of Barrel-Aged Cocktails

    Known as one of the best restaurants for juicy prime cuts, SW Steakhouse at Wynn Palace also features a bar with must-try cocktails.

    Vintage Around Exterior Front View Macau Lifestyle Culture

    Where to Shop Vintage in Macau

    If you’re a fashionista obssessed with all things vintage, this selection of the best vintage shops in Macau is for you. Happy shopping!

    Negroni bar patua mgm cotai macau lifestyle Bars

    Where to Have an Unforgettable Negroni in Macau

    Check our list of the best bars in Macau that serve the Italian bitter-sweet cocktail, Negroni, from classic recipes to original twists!

    Coloane hiking trail Culture

    Guide to Coloane’s Hiking Trails

    Coloane is home to most of the hiking trails in town. We walked them all and came up with the most comprehensive Coloane hiking trails guide.

    sponge-cake-macau-lifestyle-chinese-pastries Dining

    A Tour of Traditional Chinese Pastries in Macau

    Every tourist coming to Macau can make a fast conclusion that cookies and pastries here are held in high regard. Where do you start, and what do you eat? To get acquainted with a curious word of local sweets, check our guide to the Chinese pastries in Macau.

    Signature cocktail - Patuá mgm cotai macau Bars

    Bar Patuá at MGM Macau: Language of Mixology

    Whether it is cool cocktails, stunning design, or engaging conversations with a bartender, Bar Patuá has a lot to offer. Learn more in our review!

    ramen pro macau lifestyle Dining

    Delicious Ramen Spots in Macau

    A hot bowl of Japanese ramen would surely satisfy any noodle craving. Slurp away at these ramen places in Macau!

    Tsung I Macau Culture

    Jao Tsung-I: Prominent Sinologist & Literature Researcher in Macau

    Jao Tsung-I was a key figure in the study of ancient literature and history, as well as a prolific Chinese calligraphy artist.

    63c4f00b-ca84-4eda-8f54-1fc5b633bee6_l Architecture

    Macau’s Tap Seac Square by Carlos Marreiros

    Have you ever wondered about Tap Seac Square, its history, and what used to be there? Find out more about its history and right here!

    girl with dog and cocktail cafe Cafes

    Best Pet Friendly Cafes in Macau

    Unwilling to leave your fur child behind while you stroll the streets of Macau? Here are pet-friendly cafes in Macau for you to bring your furry friend to!

    Camões Bust in Grotto Culture

    The Camões Phenomena: All the Way From Portugal to Macau

    Portuguese poet Camões is well-known in Macau. But do you know why? We tell you some interesting facts about the author’s life!

    hiro ramen venetian macau lifestyle Dining

    Get Warm: Best Ramen Spots in Taipa

    We have composed a list of the best ramen spots in Taipa to warm your heart and soul, the Japanese way, with a hot bowl of ramen!

    beijing memory li xiao feng mandarin oriental macau art Arts

    Art at Mandarin Oriental, Macau: Porcelain Dresses & Contemporary Glass Installations

    Read on to see how Mandarin Oriental, Macau, highlights its style and identity with art and design masterpieces by different artists.  

    Nam Ping Exterior Frontdoor Macau Lifestyle Dining

    Nam Ping: A Local Foodie Haven Nestled in Old Macau

    Set in Rua de Cinco de Outubro, Nam Ping is nestled in the city center, opened for more than 30 years, serving simple, mouthwatering dishes.

    Studio City Vinca Foot Spa Foot Massage Chairs Blurred Background Macau Lifestyle Lifestyle

    Best Places for Foot Massages in Macau

    Foot massages are a special treat especially when you’re feeling stressed and fatigued so get your fix at these amazing places in Macau!

    Rooftop Macau Upstairs Terrace Dining

    Best Rooftops in Macau to Relax At

    Chilling on a rooftop with a cold drink is the best way to spend a day. Here’s a list of some of the hippest trending rooftops in Macau!

    Chou Kei Dining

    Local Eats: Where to Have Instant Noodles With Egg & Luncheon Meat in Macau

    Instant noodles taste much better topped with a fried egg and luncheon meat! Here are the best places in Macau to have this delicacy.

    _Aesop_Skin_Care_PLUS_2021 – SC+ family Beauty

    How Aesop’s the Skincare+ Range Is Revolutionizing Self-Care

    Self-care is good skincare. At the forefront of this is Aesop’s The Skincare+ Range that’s guaranteed to nourish and improve the skin.

    banyan tree macau_Spa_Royal Treatment Room Lifestyle

    Macau’s Best Spas

    Macau is a wold-class destination and this extends to its spas as well. Check out our list of spas in Macau offering the best in relaxation.

  • About
  • The Team
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us

COPYRIGHT © 2023 • MACAU LIFESTYLE

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Receive Macau Events Agenda, the Hottest Giveaway Offers and the Latest Article Updates!