The Mid-Autumn Festival, the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, falls on September 19 this year (according to the Gregorian calendar). During this traditional Chinese festival, the season of reunion, families join to light their lanterns and enjoy the sight of the full moon.

On this particular night, the moon appears to be at its roundest and brightest. The full moon symbolizes family reunion, which is why the holiday is also known as the Festival of Reunion.

At the evening of the celebrations, which traditional foods are a must for families to enjoy in the bright moonlight? China.org.cn presents you its top 10 right here!

   Pumpkin

 

Pumpkin

The tradition of eating pumpkin during Mid-Autumn Festival started with poor people living south of the Yangtze River. Legend has it that a long time ago, a girl named Huang Hua who came from a poor family, lived with her gravely ill parents who were unable to feed and clothe themselves. On August 15 on the lunar calendar of one year, she took home two pumpkins and prepared them for her parents, whose health was fully restored after eating the pumpkin. The tradition has been handed down for generations and eating pumpkin on Mid-Autumn Festival night is believed to bring people good health.