Chinese solar terms--Autumn Equinox
The Autumn Equinox was once the origin of the traditional "Moon Worship Festival" (later, the custom of moon worship gradually merged with the Mid-Autumn Festival). The ancient Chinese believed the moon symbolizes the "Yin Principle" (the feminine, cool force in nature). On the Autumn Equinox, when the moon is bright, people would set up an incense table with offerings like mooncakes and fruits, praying to the moon for the family’s safety and a bumper harvest. Today, some regions still retain the custom of moon worship during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which shares the same cultural essence as the Autumn Equinox moon worship.
In some southern regions of China, there is a custom of "eating autumn greens" on the Autumn Equinox. The "autumn greens" here mostly refer to local wild vegetables like wild amaranth. On this day, people pick fresh autumn greens and boil them with fish slices to make "autumn soup". There is a folk saying: "Autumn soup nourishes the body, cleanses the liver and intestines. For the whole family, old and young, peace and health shall come." It implies clearing away the summer heat and nourishing the body through diet to welcome autumn.
Rongyou Steel wishes you have a happy and lucky day everyday.
