The customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Shandong include:
1. The custom of eating moon cakes and reunion eggs
Round moon cakes and round eggs are symbols of good luck Reunion food is also a bond for people to express their blessings to each other during the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the reunion festival, send a reunion "egg" to savor the taste of reunion and feel the deep longing.
2. Worship the God of Earth and Grain and eat "Wheat Arrows"
Farmers in Qingyun County, Shandong Province worship the God of Earth and Grain on August 15th, which is called "Qingmiao Society". In Zhucheng, Linyi, Jimo and other places, in addition to worshiping the moon, they also have to visit their graves to worship their ancestors. Landlords in Guanxian, Laiyang, Guangrao and Youcheng also hosted banquets for their tenants during the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the Jimo Mid-Autumn Festival, a festival food called "Mai Arrow" is eaten.
3. Make "moon drum"
There is a kind of steamed moon cake in Shandong, which is still passed down in Weifang and Yantai Longkou, and is called "moon", "moon drum" and "moon cake". "Cake" is made of two layers of dough.
The whole body is round, the lower layer is often made into twelve "moon petals", dates are inserted on the "petals", the upper layer is made into "jade rabbit", made into "monkey", and decorated with many dough sculptures and dyes. There are two layers of flowers and fruits, and red dates are also sandwiched between them. This thing is used for moon offerings and gifts to relatives and friends. It is beautiful and delicious.
4. Throwing handkerchiefs at night to attract relatives
In some areas of Shandong Province, there is a custom of throwing handkerchiefs to attract relatives on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a colorful platform is set up in the square and 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. When some unmarried young men return their handkerchiefs, if they are liked by "Chang'e", they can give them a ring as a gift. From then on, the two parties can make friends and communicate with each other, and the lovers will get married.
5. Paper-cutting and pasting window grilles
People in Jiaodong area have had the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival paper-cutting and pasting window grilles for a long time. Until the late 1970s, rural elderly people in Penglai, Qixia and Mouping areas These customs are still continued.
6. Visiting your daughter on August 15th
There is a custom in Tai'an of visiting your daughter on August 15th. Before every Mid-Autumn Festival, every household prepares gifts to see their married daughters, including old ones who have been married for many years.