Folk Culture

Traditional festival customs are not stagnant “still waters,” but are dynamic and evolving, characterized by vitality, adaptability, and contemporaneity. As society progresses, traditional festival customs also undergo constant change—either fading into obscurity when they fail to keep up with the times, or thriving by integrating traditional and modern elements to preserve and innovate their heritage. Amid the rapid changes in contemporary society and the deepening influence of the Information Age, the cultural connotations and expressions associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival are undergoing profound changes. Recognizing and utilizing the contemporary functions of Mid-Autumn Festival customs has become a crucial aspect of discussions on the preservation and development of traditional festival customs. As the principal investigator of the project “Chinese Festival Chronicles: The Mid-Autumn Festival” commissioned by the National Social Science Fund of China, I coordinated a comprehensive study of the practices of the Mid-Autumn Festival in 25 cities and regions, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Macau. Based on the results of this research, this section analyzes the interplay between traditional festival customs and human needs, cultural heritage, social changes, economic development, technological progress, and government policies; explores the influence of various factors on the Mid-Autumn Festival; and provides insights into the development trends of traditional Chinese festival customs.