China News Service, Ganzhou, September 26 (Xiong Jinyang, Chen Yu) On the evening of September 25, the second Jiangxi Hakka Mid-Autumn Festival Moon Worship Ceremony with the theme of "The moon is my hometown and guests come from all directions" kicked off at the Hakka Cultural City in Ganxian District, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province. Folk activities such as Hakka lion dance, lantern tour, ancient moon worship, and burning tile pagodas took turns taking place, and guests from all over the world came together to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.
It is understood that the folk moon-appreciation activity during the Mid-Autumn Festival began around the Wei and Jin Dynasties and flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties. In the minds of the ancients, the moon has always carried the image of reunion and perfection. Famous sayings such as "The bright moon rises on the sea, and we share this moment in the world" have been passed down to this day.
The picture shows the scene of the second Jiangxi Hakka Mid-Autumn Festival Moon Worship Ceremony. Photo by Chen Yu
The ancestors of the Hakka people migrated south from the Central Plains and brought the custom of moon worship to the land of Jiangxi and Po. They blended with the local culture and formed the unique Hakka moon worship tradition. In the Hakka area, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the "August Festival" and "August Half". People place fruit cakes under the moon, worship the full moon, and pray for blessings and reunion.
This year's Moon Worship Ceremony has three major themes: "Hometown Feelings, Burning Watt Towers, and Sharing the Full Moon". That night, Hakka double dragons and Hakka lion dances lined up at the archway to welcome guests and paraded into the city. Welcome dances, Hakka nursery rhymes and other programs were performed one after another. Then we entered the ancient month worship process - opening the door, paying tribute, making fire, lighting the fire, cleansing hands and clearing the mind, trimming crowns and saluting... Four generations prayed to the moon according to ancient rituals, praying for blessings and reunion. During this period, the Hakka folk custom of "burning tile towers" was held. The villagers built the tower with bricks and tiles, filled it with firewood and lit it, and sprinkled salt to help the flames, which symbolized a prosperous life and a prosperous family. At the end of the event, hundreds of Kongming lanterns were launched into the sky together with fireworks, sending good wishes to the bright moon and sending them far away.
"The number of on-site participants in this year's Moon Worship Ceremony far exceeded expectations. Many tourists from outside came here for Hakka folk customs." Ouyang Zhiming, deputy director of Jiangxi Hakka Museum, said, "Next, we will turn classic folk customs such as burning tile pagodas and fish dragon lanterns into experience projects, and launch themed cultural tourism activities in conjunction with traditional festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and Spring Festival to allow tourists to fully experience the charm of Hakka culture."
Ganxian District is an important stop for the Hakka ancestors to migrate south and settle down, and is known as the "cradle of Hakkas". In recent years, Ganxian County has continued to delve into the connotation of Hakka culture. The Hakka Cultural City has been rated as a national 4A tourist attraction and will receive more than 500,000 tourists in 2025.
From Hakka Cultural City to Bailu Ancient Village, from tile-burning pagodas to Hakka delicacies, Hakka culture has enabled more and more local villagers to enjoy "tourist meals" at their doorsteps, becoming a powerful driving force for Gan County to help revitalize rural areas and activate the county economy. (over)
