Why are our Construction Sites in China standing still from September 22-24? Or in other Words: Why does a Rabbit scamper for the Mid-Autumn Festival?

20.09.2018

With a tradition spanning over 3000 years, the Mid-Autumn Festival is the second largest family festival in the Chinese cultural space after the New Year celebrations. Based on the Lunar calendar and with similarities to the American Thanksgiving, the Mid-Autumn festival brings together family and friends to give thanks for the season’s harvest. It is said that the moon is the brightest that day; and therefore, plays a special role in the holiday.

Following a version of the legend to the festival, the archer Houyi was awarded an immortality elixir for saving the earth from drying up by shooting nine out of ten suns. His wife Chang’e drank the elixir and consequently rose to heaven; finding a place to live on the moon ever since. In order to not suffer in solitude, she found a jade rabbit to accompany her through eternity. And that's why you will find our construction sites standing still during these days, because families will come together, celebrate, and maybe even see a rabbit scampering on the moon.

Picture Source: MPS Bauplanung GmbH