The 15th day of the eighth lunar month is the "Mid-Autumn Festival", which is also the birthday of the God of Earth (Tu-Ti Gong). Since the time coincides with the fall harvest season, people in Taiwan celebrate the occasion by worshiping to the Heaven (Moon Lady) and the Earth (God of Earth) in hope that the next year's harvest would be even more bountiful.

      Since ancient times, the Chinese people have regarded the "Moon Lady" as a goddess. The ceremony for worshipping the "Moon Lady" is a simple one: A table is set under the moonlight and arranged with red candles, an incense burner, moon cakes and seasonal fruits. Women host the ceremony while the family faces the moon in prayer. When the incense emits its last coil of smoke, the table may then be cleared and everyone may help themselves to the moon cakes and other offered food.

      In China, the full moon has always represented the gatherings of friends and family. Thus, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions. "Moon cakes" (1) are an indispensable part of the Festival, which symbolize the reunion as well. According to the legend, the custom of eating moon cakes began in the late Yuan Dynasty.

      In Chinese the word for "pomelo" is homophonous with that for "blessing", thus the fruit is considered auspicious. Since pomelo season coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival, this sweet fruit has naturally become a part of the festival in addition to the moon cakes. The most famous type of pomelo grown in Taiwan is Matou in Tainan County. This prized fruit, distinguished by its pointed top, round bottom, and thin skin, has a honey-sweet taste that has made it famous both in Taiwan and abroad.

      The cool air of Mid-Autumn Festival is perfect for families and friends going together to scenic spots and parks for "moon appreciation." This festival has been made even more romantic by the beautiful legends of Chang-O Flying to the Moon.

      According to the legend, there were ten suns shining in the sky in the far ancient times. The combined heat scorched the earth and crops that the people had nothing to eat. To save the world from imminent starvation, China's most famous archer, Hou Yi, shot down nine of the suns with his might bow so people could live peace and in happiness. Unfortunately, these ten suns turned out to be the sons of the Jade Emperor (Ruler of the Heaven), who was so angered by the loss of his sons that he banished the archer together with his wife, Chang O, to the earth. When the Western Goddess discovered what had happened, she took pity on Hou Yi and gave him an elixir of immortality. But allured by selfishness, his wife Chang O greedily swallowed the potion by herself. As the concoction worked through her body, she became lighter and lighter and floated up onto the moon, becoming the "Moon Lady" of this "Cold Palace". It is said that Chang O transformed herself into brilliant moonlight and descended to earth to offer good fortune. Thus, couples swear their mutual love under the full moon and separated lovers pray for reunion under the full moon.

      If one looks carefully at the full moon, it may be able to see the dark shadows of the legendary "Wu Kang chopping the cassia tree". In Chinese mythology, Wu Kang is portrayed as a woodcutter fascinated with the magic of immortality. Angered by his hubris, the Jade Emperor banished Wu Kang to the Moon Palace, telling him that he must cut down a huge cassia tree before he could possess the magic of immortality. Though he chopped day and night, the cassia tree restored itself with each blow, and thus he continues to eternally chop the tree on the barren moon.

　　
      In this legend, three immortal sages transformed themselves into pitiful old men and begged for food from a fox, a monkey and a rabbit. The fox and the monkey both had food to give to the old men, but the empty-handed rabbit had nothing to give, and offered his own flesh instead by jumping into a blazing fire. The fairies were so touched by the rabbit's sacrifice, thus let him live in the Moon Palace where he became the "Jade Rabbit."