The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar; a date that parallels the autumnal equinox of the solar calendar, when the moon is at its fullest. Chinese people believe that on that day, the moon will be the biggest, roundest and brightest, and the term "round" implies family reunion in Chinese. The festival is marked by Chinese families and friends gathering to eat Chinese moon cakes and pomelos together.
A pedestrian strolls under lighting of small bulbs set up at popular Victoria Park to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong on Tuesday, September 21, 2010. Like ancient Chinese poets, Hong Kong people appreciate the beauty of the full moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Wednesday September 22, 2010 this year. AP / Kin CheungRead
A pedestrian walks by illuminations set up at popular Victoria Park to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong on Tuesday, September 21, 2010. AP / Kin Cheung
Illuminated decorations and lighting of small bulbs are set up at popular Victoria Park to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong on Tuesday, September 21, 2010. AP / Kin Cheung
Illuminated decorations and lighting of small bulbs are set up at popular Victoria Park to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong on Tuesday, September 21, 2010. AP / Kin Cheung
Illuminated decorations are set up at popular Victoria Park to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong on Tuesday, September 21, 2010. AP / Kin Cheung
Revellers take pictures of a fire dragon dance in Hong Kong on September 22, 2010. AFP/ Getty Images / Quitterie Lehmann
Performers prepare to take part in a Chinese opera celebrating the Chinese mid-autumn festival in Hong Kong on September 22, 2010. AFP/ Getty Images / Quitterie Lehmann
People look at giant lanterns displayed as part of Mid-autumn festival celebration at a park in Hong Kong on September 22, 2010. AFP/ Getty Images / Mike Clarke
Giant lanterns are displayed as part of Mid-autumn festival celebration at a park in Hong Kong on September 22, 2010. AFP/ Getty Images / Mike Clarke
A girl lights candles during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. AP / Lai Seng Sin
An ethnic Chinese man looks at lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. AP / Lai Seng Sin
Female divers dressed like Chang'e, the Chinese goddess in the moon, dance in water at the East Lake Ocean World in Wuhan, central China, on Wednesday Sept. 22, 2010. Divers of the East Lake Ocean World performed the legend of Chinese goddess Chang'e flying to the moon on Wednesday to greet the Mid-Autumn festival, the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, which falls on Sept. 22 this year. AP / Wang Zhenwu
Visitors stroll at the Yu Yuan garden in Shanghai on the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. AP / Eugene Hoshiko
Visitors prays at the City God Temple in Shanghai on the Mid-Autumn Festival Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. AP / Eugene Hoshikohttp://www.rosiana.com
Visitors pray as they burn joss sticks at the City God Temple in Shanghai on the Mid-Autumn Festival Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. AP / Eugene Hoshiko
Taoist priests recite in front of the altars at the City God Temple in Shanghai on the Mid-Autumn Festival Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. AP / Eugene Hoshiko
A visitor prays as she burns joss sticks at the City God Temple in Shanghai on the Mid-Autumn Festival Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. AP / Eugene Hoshiko
Taoist priests recites at the City God Temple in Shanghai on the Mid-Autumn Festival Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. AP / Eugene Hoshiko
A couple prepare for their wedding photos at the Temple of Heaven on the first day of the mid-autumn festival holiday in Beijing on September 22, 2010. AFP/ Getty Images / Peter Parks
A visitor wears a Chinese mask as she takes pictures at the Temple of Heaven on the first day of the mid-autumn festival holiday in Beijing on September 22, 2010. AFP/ Getty Images / Peter Parks http://www.rosiana.com
People visit the Temple of Heaven on the first day of the mid-autumn festival holiday in Beijing on September 22, 2010. AFP/ Getty Images / Peter Parks
via The Sacramento Bee
A pedestrian strolls under lighting of small bulbs set up at popular Victoria Park to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong on Tuesday, September 21, 2010. Like ancient Chinese poets, Hong Kong people appreciate the beauty of the full moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Wednesday September 22, 2010 this year. AP / Kin CheungRead
via The Sacramento Bee
