大学英语作文Chinese Moon Festival

Chinese Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, which usually falls into September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. It is a national holiday celebrated primarily in China and Vietnam as a day of worshiping moon and celebrating harvest.

As to the origin of this festival, there seems to be different versions. Some historians claim that the festival can be traced back to the Sui Dynasty when the notorious Emperor Yang of Sui, also named Yang Guang, cruelly exploited its people and many insurrectionary armies all over the country began to revolt against his violent repression. It is said that when a revolting army was marching towards the capital where the emperor lived, it came up against a serious problem, the insufficiency of army provision. Many soldiers died of hunger instead of sacrificing under powder. At this urgent moment, a resourceful general came up with a good idea. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, inspired by a full moon hanging on the pitch dark sky, he invented a new snack, mooncake named for its moon-like round shape and successfully solved the problem of famine. Meanwhile, that is to worship the moon goddess for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Nevertheless, the romantic Chinese people generally prefer the third version. Though depleted of historical evidences, it is by all means a beautiful and sad story. Elixir Chang’e

No matter how diverse the versions are concerning its origin, the festival has been firmly rooted as a treasure of our national culture. Today, the festival is not only a commemoration of harvest but also a symbol of harmony and unity. Friends and relatives, though having lived far away from each other, will try to gather together for reunion. The various customs, resonant with the nation’s long history, has also been preserved and further developed. In some parts of China, people will light lanterns on towers and dances are held for young men and women to find partners. For example, young women are encouraged to throw their handkerchiefs to the crowd, and the young man who catches and returns the handkerchief has a chance at romance osmanthus

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