"ZhongQiuJie"probablybeganasaharvestfestival.ThefestivalwaslatergivenamythologicalflavourwithlegendsofChang-E,thebeautifulladyinthemoon.

中秋节最早可能是一个庆祝丰收的节日。后来，月宫里美丽的仙女嫦娥的神话故事赋予了它神话色彩。

AccordingtoChinesemythology,theearthoncehad10sunscirclingoverit.Oneday,all10sunsappearedtogether,scorchingtheearthwiththeirheat.Theearthwassavedwhenastrongarcher,HouYi,succeededinshootingdown9ofthesuns.Yistoletheelixiroflifetosavethepeoplefromhistyrannicalrule,buthiswife,Chang-Edrankit.ThusstartedthelegendoftheladyinthemoontowhomyoungChinesegirlswouldprayattheMid-AutumnFestival.

传说古时候，天空曾有10个太阳。一天，这10个太阳同时出现，酷热难挡。弓箭手后翌射下了其中9个太阳，拯救了地球上的生灵。他偷了长生不死药，却被妻子嫦娥偷偷喝下。此后，每年中秋月圆之时，少女们都要向月宫仙女嫦娥祈福的传说便流传开来。

Inthe14thcentury,theeatingofmooncakesat"ZhongQiuJie"wasgivenanewsignificance.ThestorygoesthatwhenZhuYuanZhangwasplottingtooverthrowtheYuanDynastystartedbytheMongolians,therebelshidtheirmessagesintheMid-Autumnmooncakes.ZhongQiuJieishencealsoacommemorationoftheoverthrowoftheMongoliansbytheHanpeople.