The term "Mid-Autumn" first appeared in the *Rites of Zhou*. According to ancient Chinese calendars, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month falls in the middle of autumn, hence it is called "Mid-Autumn." A year has four seasons, and each season is divided into three parts: Meng (early), Zhong (middle), and Ji (late). The second month of autumn is called "Zhongqiu," so Mid-Autumn is also referred to as "Zhongqiu." During the Wei and Jin dynasties, there are records such as "The Secretary was ordered to garrison at Niuxiao. On the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival, he and his attendants dressed in civilian clothes and drifted on the river." It wasn't until the early Tang Dynasty that the Mid-Autumn Festival became a fixed holiday. The *Records of Emperor Taizong* in the *Book of Tang* documents "the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the eighth month." The festival gained popularity starting from the Song Dynasty, and by the Ming and Qing dynasties, it had become as famous as the New Year's Day celebration, making it one of China's major holidays. It is also the second largest traditional festival in China after the Spring Festival.
This article originates from the Web Programming Readers Blog: http://www.caojinlong.com.cn/article/12/182.html