The Mid-Autumn Festival originated in ancient times and was popular in the Han Dynasty. It was finalized in the early years of the Tang Dynasty and prevailed after the Song Dynasty. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a synthesis of autumn seasonal customs, and most of the festival factors it contains have ancient origins. The Mid-Autumn Festival uses the full moon to signify the reunion of people. It is a rich and precious cultural heritage for yearning for the hometown, the love of loved ones, and praying for a harvest and happiness.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, the Spring Festival, the Ching Ming Festival, and the Dragon Boat Festival are also known as the four major traditional festivals in China. Influenced by Chinese culture, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also a traditional festival for some countries in East and Southeast Asia, especially the local Chinese and overseas Chinese. On May 20, 2006, the State Council included it in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists. Since 2008, the Mid-Autumn Festival has been listed as a national legal holiday.