第一篇:中秋节的由来及庆祝习俗
中秋节的由来及庆祝习俗
2012年09月14日20:13 | 我来说两句(347人参与)| 保存到博客
央视网
在中国的农历里,一年分为四季,每季又分为孟、仲、季三个部分,因而中秋也称仲秋。八月十五的月亮比其它几个月的满月更圆,更明亮,所以又叫做月夕、秋节、仲秋节、八月节、八月会、追月节、玩月节、拜月节、女儿节或团圆节。
我国人民在古代就有“秋暮夕月”的习俗。夕月,即祭拜月神。到了周代,每逢中秋夜都要举行迎寒和祭月。在宋代,中秋赏月之风更盛,据《东京梦华录》记载:“中秋夜,贵家结饰台榭,民间争占酒楼玩月”。每逢这一日,京城的所有店家、酒楼都要重新装饰门面,牌楼上扎绸挂彩,出售新鲜佳果和精制食品,夜市热闹非凡,百姓们多登上楼台,一些富户人家在自己的楼台亭阁上赏月,并摆上食品或安排家宴,团圆子女,共同赏月叙谈。至今我国各地尚遗存着许多“拜月坛”、“拜月亭”、“望月楼”之类的古迹。
随着时间的推移和节日习俗的演化,中秋节严肃的帝王祭祀演变成了民间轻松的欢娱。围绕中秋赏月主题,诗词歌赋、舞蹈曲艺、民间戏剧等也丰富多采。时至现在,仍有许多地区保留着传统的节庆方式。
江西省吉安县在中秋节的傍晚,每个村都用稻草烧瓦罐,待瓦罐烧红后,再放醋进去。这时就会有香味飘满全村。新城县过中秋时,自八月十一夜起就悬挂通草灯,直至八月十七日止。
安徽省婺源中秋节,儿童以砖瓦堆一中空宝塔,塔上挂以账幔匾额等装饰品,又置一桌于塔前,陈设各种敬“塔神”的器具。夜间则内外都点上灯烛。绩溪中秋儿童打中秋炮。中秋炮是以稻草扎成发辫状,浸湿后再拿起来向石上打击,使发出巨响并有游火龙的风俗。火龙是以称草扎成的龙,身上插有香柱。游火龙时有锣鼓队同行,游遍各村后再送至河中。
四川省人过中秋除了吃月饼外,还要打粑、杀鸭子、吃麻饼、蜜饼等。有的地方也点桔灯,悬于门口,以示庆祝。也有儿童在柚子上插满香,沿街舞动,叫做“舞流星香球”,嘉定县中秋节祭土地神、扮演杂剧、声乐、文物,称为“看会”。
在北方,山东省庆云县农家在八月十五祭土谷神,称为“青苗社”。诸城、临沂和即墨等地除了祭月外,也得上坟祭祖。即墨中秋节吃一种应节食品叫“麦箭”。山西省潞安则在中秋节宴请女婿。大同县则把月饼称为团圆饼,在中秋夜有守夜之俗。
少数民族的祭月拜月习俗
在少数民族中同样盛行这祭月、拜月的风习。云南傣族在中秋之夜,盛行“拜
月”风俗。傣族传悦,月亮是天皇第三个儿子岩尖变的。岩尖是个英勇刚强的青年,他曾率领傣族人民打败过敌人,赢得了傣族乡亲的爱戴。后来,他不幸死后,变成了月亮,升向天空,继续发出柔和的月光,在黑暗中给傣族人民带来光明。每逢中秋节这天,小伙子一清早就带上火药枪上山打火雀、野鸡,猎取节日野味。姑娘、媳妇们忙着到湖边、池塘里抓鱼。他们都忙着准备节日的晚餐。老阿妈则忙着舂糯米,做大小不同的饣物,四只桌角上各放一个糯米圆饼,每个饼上插一炷冷香。待到月亮从山林上空一升起来,就点燃冷香,全家大小开始“拜月”。然后,对空鸣放火药枪,以示对英雄岩尖的敬意。最后,全家老小欢乐地围坐在小方桌旁,品尝饣物,谈笑赏月,尽兴方散。
鄂伦春人祭月时在露天空地放上一盆清水,摆上祭品,然后跪在盆前,向月扣拜;土族人用盆盛清水,将月亮的倒影受到清水盆中,然后,人们不停地用小石子打盆中的月亮,俗称“打月亮”;广西西部壮族的“祭月请神”活动更典型,每年夏历八月中旬,有的就在中秋夜,人们在村头村尾露天处,设一供桌,供放祭品和香炉,桌子右边树一高约一尺的树枝或竹枝,象征社树,亦作月神下凡与上天的梯子,这里保存了古老的月亮神话因素。整个活动分为:请月神下凡,由一名或两名妇女作为月神的代讠人;神人对歌;月神卜卦算命;歌手唱送神咒歌,送月神回天四个阶段。
蒙古族“追月”。中秋之夜,蒙古族人爱做“追月”的游戏。人们跨上骏马,在银白色月光下,奔驰在草原上。他们朝西放马奔驰,月亮由东方升起,坠落天西方。执着的蒙古骑手,不到月亮西下,“追月”不止。
藏族的“寻月”。西藏一些地区的藏族同胞欢度中秋的习俗是“寻月”。是日夜晚,男女青年和娃娃们,沿着河流,跟着倒映水中的明月,把周围河塘中的月影措遍,然后回家团圆吃月饼。
赫哲族“祭月”。在我国东北的赫哲族聚居地,每逢中秋佳节,人们要采葡萄、祭月。相传是为了纪念一个聪明、勤劳的赫哲族媳妇媳妇。她受不了婆婆的虐待,跑到江边向月亮求救。最后终于奔到了月亮上。
德昂族“串月”。云南潞西的德昂族青年男女,每逢中秋月明高挂,分外明亮的时候,山头塞尾,不时传来一阵悠扬动听葫芦笙,男女青年在一起“串月亮”倾诉衷情。有的还通过“串月亮”送宾榔、送茶订下婚约。
阿细族“跳月”。阿细人过中秋的传统习惯是“跳月”。中秋之夜,从各个村塞聚集到山村中的开阔地,披纱的姑娘跳起来了,肩负大三弦的小伙子跳起来了。然而,尤为撩人的还是那种青年男女表达爱慕之情的对歌,仿佛月亮也听利为之动情动容。
苗族“闹月”每逢中秋之夜,苗族群众沐浴着如丝缕的月光,吹奏悠扬的芦笙,跳起苗家歌舞,青年们在“闹月”活动中互相寻找意中人,互相表白要象月亮和清水一样,心地纯洁明亮,永结百年之好。
高山族“赏月”居住在台湾省山区的高山族同胞,每逢中秋明月高悬、清辉洒满大地的时候,穿着民族盛装,围坐在一起载歌载舞,饮酒赏月,共享天伦之乐。来源央视网综合)
█摆塔
“摆塔”盛行于明代嘉靖年间,戚继光赴闽平倭患大捷全胜,回到福州恰逢中秋节。福州百姓为欢迎凯旋之师,就把家里的贵重物品拿出来,摆在门口以示庆贺。老福州多寺多塔,摆设品也多为古塔的模型,故称“摆塔”。现在居民们在室外举办“摆塔”活动,以瓦片、石块等摆出各种自然景观。
█吮田螺:
相传张古老精于编织草鞋,赠送给无鞋穿的穷人。某财主得知,认为是生财之道,要张古老给他的家丁传授织鞋技艺,张不允,被打至吐血。张临死前恐艺失传,乃于八月十五夜叫穷邻居过来,在月下授编鞋艺,教至刚织好鞋底便身亡了(所以草鞋有底无面,前后安耳,用绳穿成)。张古老生前喜食田螺,故广州及珠三角一带的人们每年中秋节以螺拜祭张古老,拜后大家一同吮食田螺,说吮螺会使眼睛更明亮。
█征对联:
中秋征联不知始于何时。老广州多知道,1933年谭杰南、陈伯绮将位于第十甫的关姓大宅改建经营饮食,店号“陶陶居”。后为宣传其制作中秋月饼之精,举办月饼征联,请名士黄慈博阅评等第。评出第一名为闻谷音,其联云:“明月不愁珠馈夜,中天高望练横秋。”此活动一直传下来。
█盼“月破”
在多数人都盼中秋月圆的时候,在我国有些地方却是盼望“月破”:中秋之夜,家家院子里放一盆清水,当圆月的倒影出现在盆中时,人们便不停地用小石子击打,直把那轮圆月打得“体无完肤”。还有的地方,家家都剪一个又大又圆的月亮贴在窗上,按当地风俗,这圆月必须在当天撕破,这样可以驱除邪气,带来好运。█博饼文化
在中秋节,厦门人除了赏月,吃中秋月饼外,还有一种自郑成功驱逐荷夷、收复台湾时流传下来的“玩会饼博状元”的民俗活动。中秋会饼每会63块,大小不同,共分为 6 种,分别代表古代科举的状元、榜眼、探花、进士、举人、秀才。每人轮流将 6 个骰子掷入碗中,根据投入碗里的骰子点数领饼,以最终夺得“状元”为幸运。
█偷吃:
在湖南省与贵州省交界的怀化地区,流传“偷吃”风俗。每到中秋这天,家家大门、后门都半掩半开;平时,乡亲们对小偷深恶痛绝,可这天,明知“小偷”进了屋,全家都装聋作哑,视而不见,且为“小偷”准备丰盛的瓜果、月饼等,“偷吃”越多越高兴。
█偷瓜送子:
贵州省不少地方,流行“偷瓜送子”习俗。要是谁家不生小孩,村里好心的小伙便在中秋这天趁着明亮的月光,来到地里,偷摘一个大冬瓜,刻画出小孩的模样,再把准备好的小孩衣服套上,用竹篮装好后敲锣打鼓抬到这户人家,受瓜人在招待客人后,将瓜放在床上与妻伴睡一夜,第二天将冬瓜煮熟进食,要是以后怀了孕,受瓜人得好好感谢这群小伙。
█摸秋:
在大别山地区,每到中秋这天,山民们吃罢晚饭,便三三两两,踏着月光,循着香气,或上山、或下地“摸秋”。田间地头不是果就是瓜,摸着什么,就吃个痛快,生吃行,野外烤着吃也行,直到夜深人静,大家才陆陆续续开心地回家,哪个人吃得痛快、可口,谁就要高兴几天。
█抢瓜:
浙江省山区流行“抢瓜”习俗。青年和孩子们分别在白天或晚上举行抢瓜比赛,看谁最先抢到瓜。胜者,意味幸福吉祥,还可得到奖励。
第二篇:中秋节的由来和习俗(英文)
For thousands of years, the Chinese people have related the vicissitudes of life to changes of the moon as it waxes and wanes;joy and sorrow, parting and reunion.Because the full moon is round and symbolizes reunion, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the festival of reunion.All family members try to get together on this special day.Those who can not return home watch the bright moonlight and feel deep longing for their loved ones.Today, festivities centered about the Mid-Autumn Festival are more varied.After a family reunion dinner, many people like to go out to attend special performances in parks or on public squares.In Zhejiang province,watching the flood tide of the Qian-tang River during the Mid-Autumn Festival is not only a must for local people, but also an attraction for those from other parts of the country.In mid autumn, the sun, earth and moon send out strong gravitational forces upon the seas.The outline of the Qiantang River is shaped like a bugle.So the flood tide which forms at the narrow mouth is particularly impressive.Spectators crowd on the river bank, watching the roaring waves.At its peak, the tide rises as high as three and a half meters.There are two legends about the mid autumn festival ,one is One hero called Hou Yi, one day ,he go out with his students.One student called Peng Meng ,he knew that HouYi's wife ,ChangEr, have some thing that ,can let people become immortal.PengMeng wanted to be an immortal, so he use a sword ,and said to ChangEr if she don't want to give him that thing ,she will be died!.ChangEr don't want PengMeng to be an immortal ,and she used that thing and become an immortal The other is Many years ago, there was a king in China.He was a brave man who did lots of benefits to the people.He admired a beautiful girl and made her stay in the palace so that he could see her whenever he wanted.But, the girl did not like the frightful figure of the king.She seldomly spoke a word in the palace.Each time the king went to her place, he used to bring some gifts to the girl in order to make her smile and speak.On every full moon, the girl would burn incenses and candles to worship the moon.People believed that there was a god lived in the moon that made the moon shine.Girls who wanted to be a beauty and have a handsome husband should worship the moon.One day, the full moon of the eighth month, the king brought three herbs pills to show her.And he said “This is from the priest.If I eat them up, I can live forever.” This was the first time the girl watched what he brought.He continued, “If you and I both take one, we will both live forever.No one can take you away from me!”
Because the king afraid of the pills would have side effects.He forced the girl to take the pill first.If nothing wrong with her after taking the pill, he would take it immediately.However, the girl recognized that if she took all three of them, the king would left her eventually.Therefore, the first time, she spoke to the king,“Let me have a look of the pills first.Otherwise, I will not try at all.”
The king surprisingly the girl talked to him.So, he handed the pills to the girl.She did not say anything but eat all of them.The king was extremely angry.He wanted to kill her.At this moment, the girl started to fly.She could fly because of the intake of the pills.The king could not catch her, but watched her flew toward the moon and disappeared.After that, people believed that there was a beautiful girl stay in the moon with a little old man and a bunny.The old man was believed to be the god inside the moon and the bunny was his pet.Day after day, Chinese believed that there were people lived in the moon.Their movement made the dark spot when we looked up to the moon.People used to worship the girl to glorify her chastity.So, on every full moon of the mid-Autumn became a festival in order to memorize her.
第三篇:中秋节的由来和各地习俗
“中秋”一词,最早见于《周礼》。根据我国古代历法,农历八月十五日,在一年秋季的八月中旬,故称“中秋”。中秋节的由来和各地习俗有哪些你知道吗?一起来看看中秋节的由来和各地习俗,欢迎查阅!
中秋节的由来
农历八月十五是我国的传统节日,中秋节与春节、端午节、清明并称为中国汉族的四大传统节日。据史籍记载,古代帝王有春天祭日、秋天祭月的礼制,而祭月的节期为农历八月十五,时日恰逢三秋之半,故名“中秋节”;又因这个节日在秋季八月,故又称“秋节”、“八月节”、“八月会”、“仲秋节”;又有祈求团圆的信仰和相关节俗活动,故亦称“团圆节”、“女儿节”。因中秋节的主要活动都是围绕“月”进行的,所以又俗称“月节”、“月夕”、“追月节”、“玩月节”、“拜月节”;在唐朝,中秋节还被称为“端正月”。关于中秋节的起源,大致有三种:起源于古代对月的崇拜、月下歌舞觅偶的习俗、古代秋报拜土地神的遗俗。
中秋节从2008年起为国家法定节假日。国家非常重视非物质文化遗产的保护,2006年5月20日,该节日经国务院批准列入第一批非物质文化遗产名录。
中秋节各地习俗
江南一带的民间在中秋节人习俗也是多种多样。南京人中秋爱吃月饼外,必吃金陵名菜桂花鸭。“桂花鸭”于桂子飘香之时应市,肥而不腻,味美可口。酒后必食一小糖芋头,浇以桂浆,美不待言。“桂浆”,取名自屈原《楚辞·少司命》“援北方闭兮酌桂浆”。桂浆,一名糖桂花,中秋前后采摘,用糖及酸梅腌制而成。江南妇女手巧,把诗中的咏物,变为桌上佳肴。南京人合家赏月称“庆团圆”,团坐聚饮叫“圆月”,出游街市称“走月”。
明初南京有望月楼、玩月桥,清代狮子山下筑朝月楼,皆供人赏月,而以游玩月桥者为最。人们在明月高悬时,结伴同登望月楼、游玩月桥,以共睹玉兔为乐。“玩月桥”在夫子庙秦淮河南,桥旁为名______马湘兰宅第,这夜,士子聚集桥头笙箫弹唱,追忆牛渚玩月,对月赋诗,故称此桥为玩月桥。明亡后,渐渐衰落,后人有诗去:“风流南曲已烟销,剩得西风长板桥,却忆玉人桥上坐,月明相对教吹箫”。长板桥,即原先的玩月桥。近年来,南京夫子庙已重新修葺,恢复明清年间的一些亭阁,疏浚河道,待到中秋佳节时,就可结伴同来领略此地的玩月佳趣了。
江苏省无锡县中秋夜要烧斗香。香斗四周糊有纱绢,绘有月宫中的景色。也有香斗以线香编成,上面插有纸扎的魁星及彩色旌旗。上海人中秋宴以桂花蜜酒佐食。
江西省吉安县在中秋节的傍晚,每个村都用稻草烧瓦罐。待瓦罐烧红后,再放醋进去。这时就会有香味飘满全村。新城县过中秋时,自八月十一夜起就悬挂通草灯,直至八月十七日止。
安徽省婺源中秋节,儿童以砖瓦堆一中空宝塔。塔上挂以帐幔匾额等装饰品,又置一桌于塔前,陈设各种敬“塔神”的器具。夜间则内外都点上灯烛。绩溪中秋儿童打中秋炮。中秋炮是以稻草扎成发辫状,浸湿后再拿起来向石上打击,使发出巨响并有游火龙的风俗。火龙是以称草扎成的龙,身上插有香柱。游火龙时有锣鼓队同行,游遍各村后再送至河中。
四川省人过中秋除了吃月饼外,还要打粑、杀鸭子、吃麻饼、蜜饼等。有的地方也点桔灯,悬于门口,以示庆祝。也有儿童在柚子上插满香,沿街舞动,叫做“舞流星香球”。嘉定县中秋节祭土地神、扮演杂剧、声乐、文物,称为“看会”。
在北方,山东省庆云县农家在八月十五祭土谷神,称为“青苗社”。诸城、临沂和即墨等地除了祭月外,也得上坟祭祖。冠县、莱阳、广饶及邮城等地的地主也在中秋节宴请佃户。即墨中秋节吃一种应节食品叫“麦箭”。山西省潞安则在中秋节宴请女婿。大同县则把月饼称为团圆饼,在中秋夜有守夜之俗。
河北省万全县称中秋为“小元旦”,月光纸上绘有太阴星君及关帝夜阅春秋像。河间县人认为中秋雨为苦雨,若中秋节下雨,当地人则认为青菜必定味道不佳。
中秋节民间传说
远古时候天上有十日同时出现,晒得庄稼枯死,民不聊生,一个名叫后羿的英雄,力大无穷,他同情受苦的百姓,拉开神弓,一气射下九个多太阳,并严令最后一个太阳按时起落,为民造福。后羿妻子名叫嫦娥。后羿除传艺狩猎外,终日和妻子在一起。不少志士慕名前来投师学艺,心术不正的蓬蒙也混了进来。
一天,后羿到昆仑山访友求道,向王母求得一包不死药。据说,服下此药,能即刻升天成仙。然而,后羿舍不得撇下妻子,暂时把不死药交给嫦娥珍藏。嫦娥将药藏进梳妆台的百宝匣。三天后,后羿率众徒外出狩猎,心怀鬼胎的蓬蒙假装生病,没有外出。待后羿率众人走后不久,蓬蒙持剑闯入内宅后院,威逼嫦娥交出不死药。嫦娥知道自己不是蓬蒙的对手,危急之时她转身打开百宝匣,拿出不死药一口吞了下去。嫦娥吞下药,身子立时飘离地面、冲出窗口,向天上飞去。由于嫦娥牵挂着丈夫,便飞落到离人间最近的月亮上成了仙。
傍晚,后羿回到家,侍女们哭诉了白天发生的事。后羿既惊又怒,抽剑去杀恶徒,蓬蒙早已逃走,后羿气得捶胸顿足,悲痛欲绝,仰望着夜空呼唤嫦娥,这时他发现,今天的月亮格外皎洁明亮,而且有个晃动的身影酷似嫦娥。后羿思念妻子,便派人到嫦娥喜爱的后花园里,摆上香案,放上嫦娥平时爱吃的蜜食鲜果,遥祭在月宫里的嫦娥。百姓们闻知嫦娥奔月成仙的消息后,纷纷在月下摆设香案,向善良的嫦娥祈求吉祥平安。从此,中秋节拜月的风俗在民间传开了。
第四篇:英文版中秋节由来、习俗、故事
Mid-Autumn Festival
One of the most important festivals is the Mid-Autumn Day.Chinese ancestors believed that the 7th,8th,and 9th lunar months belong to autumn.So the Mid-Autumn Day falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.In mid-autumn, farmers have just finished gathering their crops and bringing in fruits from the orchards果园.Overjoyed狂喜的 with the bumper丰富的 harvest, they feel quite relaxed after a year's hard work.So the 15th of the eighth lunar month has gradually evolved as成为 a widely celebrated festival for ordinary people.Night falls.The land is bathed in silver moonlight, as at this time of the year the weather is usually fine and the sky usually clear.Families set up tables in their courtyards 庭院or sit on their balconies, chatting and sharing offerings祭品 to the moon.Together they enjoy the enchanting迷人的 spell of night.Naturally at this pleasant moment people are reminded of beautiful legends about the moon.The most popular in China is an ancient story telling how a girl named Chang'e flew to the moon.Long long ago,a terrible drought干旱plagued折磨;困扰 the land.Ten suns burned fiercely猛烈地 in the sky like smoldering 情绪郁积的volcanoes火山.The land was parched烤, and rivers went dry.Many people died of hunger and thirst.Then there appeared a brave young man named Hou Yi who took out his red bow and white arrows箭and shot down nine suns one after another一个接一个的.The weather immediately turned cooler and heavy rains filled the rivers with fresh water.Life was restored恢复 on the earth and humanity was saved.A beautiful girl secretly fell in love with the hero, who also loved the sweet girl.Soon they got married.Out of respect for what he had done for his people, the goddess of the western sky rewarded the brave young man with a special drink that could give its drinker eternal永恒的 life in the heaven and made him an immortal being生命.But an evil-minded person got to learn the secret and he managed to kill the hero by a sudden attack.The murder done, he ran to Chang'e who was waiting for the return of her husband from hunting.The wicked邪恶的 murderer谋杀者 forced强迫 the wife to give him the drink.Without hesitation犹豫, the wife in her desperation绝望的境地 took up the drink and drank it in one gulp大口的.Overcome with grief悲痛, the faithful忠诚wife rushed to the dead body of her husband and wept bitterly悲痛地.But soon the drink began to take effect and Chang'e felt herself lifted up from the ground towards heaven.She had to live on the moon because it is nearest to the earth where her husband lay lifeless无生命的 and cold.She was alone and sad, never able to get back to earth.For thousands of years the Chinese people have related涉及 the vicissitudes兴衰 of life to changes of the moon as it waxes渐满 and wanes渐淡的: joy and sorrow, parting and reunion.Because the round, full moon is a symbol of reunion and happiness, the mid-autumn day when the moon is at its fullest and brightest is naturally taken as the festival.In the Chinese written language, the word圆满(pronounced as “yuan man”)means round and full literally字面上地, and metaphorically 暗喻it suggests family reunion and perfection 完美of life in the world.Every family would try to enjoy a happy reunion of its members in hoping for a more perfect life in future.Those who cannot return home on this day to watch the bright moon together with their dear ones always feel deep longing for their family.One of the most famous poets in the Tang Dynasty, Li Bai, expressed his longing for home place in a short poem that has become known even to three-year-old kids for thousands of years.It runs like this:
Before my bed shine bright the silver moon beams, It seems autumn frost on the chamber floor gleams.Gazing up toward the full moon in the night skies, I can't but lower my head as homesickness乡愁 does arise上升.Today festivities欢宴,庆典 centered about the Mid-Autumn Day are more varied.After a family reunion dinner, many people like to go out to attend special performances in parks or on public squares.Some groups or clubs of retired people would hold gatherings or parties for appreciation of the moonlight.Among all the ways to celebrate this particular occasion, one traditional custom has definitely remained unchanged and is shared by almost every Chinese.That is eating a special kind of food: moon-cakes.Most of these cakes are made in a round shape, again a symbol of the full moon.There are a number of fillings wrapped缠绕,包裹 inside the cakes, so it's also a golden time for markets and department stores to sell these special cakes to citizens市民 before and during the festival.They are really delicious, and it's not uncommon for people to send moon-cakes to friends and relatives as Mid-Autumn gifts.While eating the tasty moon-cakes and gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, people feel sweet and happy at heart.
第五篇:中秋节的由来及不同国家中秋节的不同习俗
中秋节及月饼的起源
中秋节美食首推月饼,其起源说法多种。一说元代末年,江苏泰州的反元起义领袖张士诚(或说是朱元璋的谋士刘伯温)利用中秋民众互赠圆饼之际,在饼中夹带“八月十五夜杀鞑子”的字条,大家见了饼中字条,一传十,十传百,如约于这天夜里一起手刃无恶不作的“鞑子”(元兵),过后家家吃饼庆祝起义胜利,并正式称中秋节的圆饼为月饼。在后来很长历史时期,甚至在上世纪末,许多月饼上还贴有一方小纸片!只可惜,近年所产月饼已不见小纸片踪影,月饼所含代代相传的“文化密码”荡然无存。另有一说为,明洪武初年,大将徐达攻下元朝残余势力盘踞的元大都北京,捷报传到首都南京,正在下棋的明太祖朱元璋欣喜若狂,即传谕中秋节普天同庆,并将当初反元大起义时传递信息的月饼赏赐臣民。月饼从此成为中秋节“法定”的食品,非食不可了。
月饼,最初起源于唐朝军队祝捷食品。唐高祖年间,大将军李靖征讨突厥靠月饼隐蔽的传话得胜,八月十五凯旋而归,此后,吃月饼成为每年的习俗。当时有经商的吐鲁番人向唐朝皇帝献饼祝捷。高祖李渊接过华丽的饼盒,拿出圆饼,笑指空中明月说:“应将胡饼邀蟾蜍”。说完把饼分给群臣一起吃。
南宋吴自牧的《梦梁录》一书,已有“月饼”一词,但对中秋赏月,吃月饼的描述,是明代的《西湖游览志会》才有记载:“八月十五日谓之中秋,民间以月饼相遗,取团圆之义”。到了清代,关于月饼的记载就多起来了,而且制作越来越精细。
不同国家中秋节的习俗
泰国:摆仙桃,拜八仙
泰国是华侨华人聚居的国家。在曼谷,超过一半的人有华人血统,泰国华人多为潮汕、客家人的后代。所以,泰国华人过中秋节保留了许多潮汕、客家人的传统。泰国人把中秋节唤做“祈月节”。中秋节前夕,泰国首都曼谷市就会张灯结彩,热闹非凡。人们纷纷到这里选购月饼、水果,准备与家人共度中秋佳节。柚子也是泰国华人过中秋必不可少的食物,因为它寓意团团圆圆、甜甜蜜蜜。
每当泰国的八月十五之夜,各家各户用甘蔗扎成拱门,男女老少都要集中参拜月亮。中秋桌上供奉着中国民间传说的“八洞神仙”,个个栩栩如生,桌上还摆满了“寿桃”、“月饼”之类美食。据说,中秋祈月,八仙会带着寿桃到月宫给观音祝寿,菩萨神仙们就会“降福生灵”。越南:听阿贵传说,提鲤鱼灯游玩
每年中秋节期间,越南各地都要举行花灯节,并对花灯的设计进行评比,优胜者将获得奖励。此外,中秋之夜孩子们会聆听关于阿贵的传说。相传阿贵得到仙树后,未遵仙训,用污水浇树,结果仙树腾空飞上月宫。阿贵因手拉树根,也被带去受责。晚上彩灯齐放,传说是有条鲤鱼成精后害人,包公为救百姓,用纸扎了鲤鱼灯以镇压。于是越南人尤其是孩子在中秋夜都要提鲤鱼灯出游玩耍,蕴涵长大后“跳龙门”之意。
越南人也有赏月吃月饼的传统。近年来,随着越南经济的发展,“月饼经济”应运而生。每逢中秋节来临,越南街头就会涌现出一大批月饼专卖店。越来越多的越南人将月饼当做送礼佳品,用于答谢客户和商业伙伴。月饼作为一种“关系润滑剂”,日益活跃在越南这个有着送礼传统的国家。柬埔寨:虔心拜月,祈乞赐福
在柬埔寨,人们把“中秋节”称之为“拜月节”,在佛历十二月上弦十五日举行。这天清晨,当地人们开始准备供月礼品,有的采鲜花,有的挖木薯熬汤,有的舂扁米,有的煮甘蔗水,一派欢乐繁忙。晚上,大家把供品放进托盘,将托盘放在房前一张大席子上,静待明月东升。当月上树梢头,人们虔心拜月,祈乞赐福。拜毕,老人把扁米塞进孩子嘴里,直到塞满不能咀嚼时方止。这表示“圆圆满满”、“和和美美”。缅甸:点灯火 布斋饭
在缅甸,中秋节称之为“光明节”,笃信佛教的缅甸人在8月的“月圆日”要大张灯火,以庆祝“光明节”的光临。节日之夜,万家灯火,亮若白昼,到处是“不夜城乡”。缅王每年亲自主持庆祝活动。国王还要在卫队和文武百官簇拥下,出宫观灯并举行盛大施舍。各地还要通宵达旦放电影、演话剧、跳舞唱歌,佛塔内还有大规模的布施斋饭等活动,好不热闹。