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Only women perform rites on special night
By Tao Jiming and Wang Jie |
September 27, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MID-AUTUMN Festival, to some extent, is a festival belonging to women.
In Jiading, festival customs such as offering sacrifices to the moon and burning "xiangdou" are all managed by women.
Sacrificial foods offered to the moon include mooncake, peanuts, green soybeans, taro, water chestnuts and lotus root. The worship is primarily performed by women, because the moon represents "yin," which also stands for "woman" in Chinese culture. After the ceremony, families gather to have dinner together. The Mid-Autumn Festival is sometimes called the "reunion festival."
Burning "xiangdou" is also a custom performed by women. "Xiangdou" is a form of paper box decorated with pictures of the moon palace. The burning ceremony is said to bring good luck to a family. On that day, no one, including children, goes to sleep until the burning is completed.
Others customs like "zouyueliang" and "touching the bell" are also exclusively women's exercises during the festival.
"Zouyueliang" is a custom whereby women dress up beautifully and socialize with other women. They may go activities to a temple and burning incense, go to the theater or go to scenic water spots to gaze at the full moon. These activities can last until midnight.
"Touching the bell" is a unique custom in Jiading. The bell is hanging on Dacheng Gate in Jiading Confucian Temple. In ancient China, women weren't allowed to enter the temple except during the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is said that women who touch the bell will give birth to babies blessed by Confucius.
In Jiading, festival customs such as offering sacrifices to the moon and burning "xiangdou" are all managed by women.
Sacrificial foods offered to the moon include mooncake, peanuts, green soybeans, taro, water chestnuts and lotus root. The worship is primarily performed by women, because the moon represents "yin," which also stands for "woman" in Chinese culture. After the ceremony, families gather to have dinner together. The Mid-Autumn Festival is sometimes called the "reunion festival."
Burning "xiangdou" is also a custom performed by women. "Xiangdou" is a form of paper box decorated with pictures of the moon palace. The burning ceremony is said to bring good luck to a family. On that day, no one, including children, goes to sleep until the burning is completed.
Others customs like "zouyueliang" and "touching the bell" are also exclusively women's exercises during the festival.
"Zouyueliang" is a custom whereby women dress up beautifully and socialize with other women. They may go activities to a temple and burning incense, go to the theater or go to scenic water spots to gaze at the full moon. These activities can last until midnight.
"Touching the bell" is a unique custom in Jiading. The bell is hanging on Dacheng Gate in Jiading Confucian Temple. In ancient China, women weren't allowed to enter the temple except during the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is said that women who touch the bell will give birth to babies blessed by Confucius.
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