Court? Pray for a child
The Mid-Autumn Festival is full of poetry because of the wonderful moonlight. Under the moon is the best time for young men and women to sing and find a partner, so it is also a day of pursuit. The festival of love. Young men and women sing, dance and play under the moonlight, and they can become spouses when they meet the person they like. In modern times, this kind of ancient custom still exists and is full of interest.
Throwing handkerchiefs to attract relatives
In some areas of Fujian Province, there is a custom of throwing handkerchiefs to attract relatives on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. That night, a colorful platform was set up in the square, arranged like a moon palace, with jade rabbits, osmanthus trees, etc. Some unmarried girls dressed up as Chang'e. After the celebration singing and dancing, the girls threw some handkerchiefs embroidered with different colors to the audience. If an audience member receives a handkerchief of the same color as the one held by "Chang'e", he or she can go on stage to receive the prize. Some unmarried young men can give a ring to "Chang'e" if they like it when returning the handkerchief. From then on, the two parties can make friends and communicate with each other, and the lovers will get married.
Begging for the moon, shining on the moon, and climbing on the moon
In the old days, some women in Dongguan believed that "Yue Lao is a matchmaker." If there are adult men and women in the family who accidentally fall in love with each other, it is convenient for them to marry each other at the third watch of the Mid-Autumn Festival night. Burning incense and candles under the moon, begging Yuelao to help him get married. It is said that on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, soaking in the moonlight can make women pregnant. In some areas, on the moonlit night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, some women who have been married for a long time and are infertile will go out of their homes to bathe in the moonlight, hoping to have a baby soon, which is called "shining the moon".
Stealing food to beg a man
In Taiwan, there is a custom of unmarried women "stealing food to beg a man" on Mid-Autumn Festival night. A beautifully dressed woman walks under the moonlight and secretly picks green onions and vegetables from other people's vegetable gardens. Once she picks them secretly, it indicates that she will meet the right husband. Therefore, there is a proverb in Taiwan: "Steal onions, marry a good husband; steal vegetables, marry a good son-in-law."
The Dong people's stealing of moon vegetables
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Dong Township, Hunan, an interesting custom of "stealing moon vegetables" is popular.
According to legend, in ancient times, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the fairies in the Moon Palace would descend to the lower world and spread nectar all over the world. The fairy's nectar is selfless, so people can enjoy the fruits and vegetables sprinkled with nectar together that night. The Dong family named this custom "stealing moon vegetables".
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Dong girls hold flower umbrellas and choose the gardens of their beloved children to pick vegetables without being regarded as "stealing". They even shouted loudly and intentionally: "Hey! I've ripped off your vegetables. Come to my house to eat oil tea!" It turned out that they were using the Fairy of the Moon Palace to pass on the red thread. If they can pick a melon with parallel stems, it means they will have a happy love. Therefore, beans growing in pairs became their picking targets. The sisters-in-law also went to other gardens to "steal moon vegetables" that night. However, they hoped to pick the fattest melon or a handful of fresh and green edamame, because this symbolizes the child's fatness and hairiness. health (the homophone of edamame refers to children). Young men also have the custom of "stealing moon vegetables" because they also hope that the Moon Palace Fairy will give them happiness. However, they could only cook and eat it in the wild and could not take it home. "Stealing moon vegetables" adds infinite joy and magic to the Mid-Autumn Festival night in Dong Village.