TAIPEI, Oct. 4, 2025 — Taiwan is set to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, on Monday, October 6, creating a three-day long weekend from Saturday, October 4, to Monday, October 6. The festival, deeply rooted in Chinese culture, is a time for family reunions, thanksgiving, and moon gazing under the harvest moon.
A Festival of Reunion and Tradition
The Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated for centuries as a symbol of family unity and abundance. Across Taiwan, families come together to enjoy food, storytelling, and festive gatherings that blend ancient customs with modern flair.
Popular Traditions in Taiwan
🍢 Barbecuing Together
Barbecuing has become one of Taiwan’s most recognizable Mid-Autumn traditions. The custom started in the 1980s as part of a soy sauce company’s marketing campaign and quickly became a beloved pastime. Today, parks, balconies, and riversides are filled with families and friends grilling meat and seafood while enjoying the cool autumn air.
🥮 Sharing Mooncakes
Mooncakes, round pastries symbolizing unity and completeness, are the festival’s signature treat. Traditional flavors include lotus seed paste and red bean, while modern versions feature green tea, taro, and chocolate.
🍈 Wearing Pomelo Hats
Children often turn pomelo rinds into hats — a playful tradition tied to the legend of the moon goddess Chang’e. The fruit is also eaten as part of the celebration, believed to bring good fortune and protection.
🌕 Admiring the Full Moon
Families gather outdoors to admire the moon at its brightest and roundest. Popular spots for moon gazing include riverside parks, mountain tea houses, and city rooftops, where people share stories and make wishes for the coming year.
🏮 Lantern Displays
Cities and towns across Taiwan host lantern festivals, featuring creative light displays and artistic installations that illuminate the night sky, creating a festive and magical atmosphere.
As Taiwan prepares for the long weekend, communities are expected to celebrate with joy, food, and tradition — honoring the enduring spirit of family unity and gratitude that defines the Mid-Autumn Festival.