In 2021, the Mid-Autumn Festival will fall on September 21st (Tuesday). In 2021, Chinese people will enjoy an 3-day break from Sep. 19th to 21st.
Mid-Autumn Festival is also called Mooncake Festival or Moon Festival.
Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar, which is in September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. It falls as early as September 8th (2033) and as late as October 6th (2025) in the next 30 years.
| Year | Date | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | September 21 (Tuesday) | Sep. 19 to 21 |
| 2022 | September 10 (Saturday) | Sep. 9 to 11 |
| 2023 | September 29 (Friday) | N/A |
| 2024 | September 17 (Tuesday) | N/A |
| 2025 | October 6 (Monday) | N/A |
| 2026 | September 25 (Friday) | N/A |
3-Day Break for Mooncake Festival 2021
Normally, Chinese people will have a three-day "public holiday" on the Mid-Autumn Festival — a normal weekend off for 5-day week workers, however...
When Mid-Autumn occurs at the end of September or early October its statutory day of public holiday is usually combined with the statutory National Day.
How long do Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations last?
The nationwide public holiday usually lasts 3 days. However, traditionally Chinese people start preparing for the festival 1 week in advance.
Many kindergartens and primary schools in China will hold celebration activities 1 or 2 days before the public holiday. The students are encouraged to make lanterns for classroom decorations, share festival stories with classmates, and/or make festival foods to share with each other.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is also a good gift-giving opportunity. Chinese people may home-make their mooncakes or purchase them as gifts several days in advance, and then send them to their family members, friends, colleagues, or leaders during the festival. Learn more...
How is the Mid-Autumn Festival date determined?
The Mid-Autumn is celebrated on month 8 day 15 of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and it always falls in September or October (ranging from about Sep. 6 to Oct. 6)
According to the Chinese lunar calendar (and traditional solar calendar), the 8th month is the second month of autumn. As the four seasons each have three (about-30-day) months on the traditional calendars, day 15 of month 8 is "the middle of autumn".
On the 15th of each lunar calendar month, the moon is at its roundest and brightest, symbolizing togetherness and reunion in Chinese culture. Families get together to express their familial love by eating dinner together, appreciating the moon, eating mooncakes, etc. The harvest moon is traditionally believed to be the brightest of the year.
Month 8 day 15, is traditionally the time rice is supposed to mature and be harvested. So, people celebrate the harvest and worship their gods to show their gratitude.
2021 Mid-Autumn Festival Dates in Other Asian Countries
Mid-Autumn Festival is also widely celebrated in many other Asian countries besides China, especially in those with many citizens of Chinese descent, like Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and South Korea.
The festival date in these countries is the same as in China (September 21st in 2021), except in South Korea.
In South Korea, Mid-Autumn Festival is called Chuseok, and is more like Thanksgiving. It is one of South Korea's biggest holidays, usually celebrated one day before China's Mid-Autumn Festival. In 2021, Chuseok falls on September 20th. There is a 3-day public holiday from September 20th to 22nd.
Want to share the Mid-Autumn Festival story with your family? The 3-minute video below will show you all about it.
