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The Symbolism of Fruits During the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, centers on themes of the moon, family reunion, gratitude, and harvest. Because it coincides with the harvest season, offering and sharing seasonal fruits carries deep symbolic meaning. Fruits represent abundance, togetherness, harmony, and blessings.

Fruits are used for:

  • Moon offerings to the moon goddess Chang’e (嫦娥).
  • Ancestral offerings to express gratitude for the harvest.
  • Family sharing during reunions and festive meals.

Common Fruits and Their Symbolism

1. Pomelo (柚子 / Yòuzi)

Symbolism: Reunion, prosperity, protection, and good luck.

Meaning origins:

  • The word “柚” (yòu) sounds like “佑” (yòu), meaning blessing or protection.
  • Its round shape mirrors the full moon, representing family unity.
  • Pomelos are harvest fruits, ripe exactly during the Mid-Autumn season.

Customs:

  • In southern China (especially Guangdong and Fujian), families peel pomelos in decorative ways, sometimes wearing the peel as a hat — a playful symbol of “receiving the moon’s blessings.”
  • In Vietnam (Tết Trung Thu), bưởi is a central fruit on the festival tray, often carved into animal shapes for children.

2. Apples (苹果 / Píngguǒ)

Symbolism: Peace and safety.

Meaning origins:

  • “苹果” sounds like “平安果” (píng ān guǒ), literally fruit of peace.
  • Red apples also symbolize good fortune and joy.

Customs:

  • Families gift apples to loved ones to wish safety and harmony in the coming year.
  • In modern practice, apples are often paired with mooncakes as gifts.

3. Pears (梨 / Lí)

Symbolism: Ambivalent — representing both prosperity and separation, depending on context.

Meaning origins:

  • “梨” (lí) sounds like “离” (lí), meaning to part or separate.
    • Thus, not shared between couples or loved ones, to avoid implying separation.
  • However, whole pears on the offering table symbolize longevity and prosperity, especially when not split.

Customs:

  • Whole pears are used for ancestor offerings, but not divided or shared in half.
  • Some regions substitute pears with other round fruits to avoid the negative connotation.

4. Grapes (葡萄 / Pútáo)

Symbolism: Fertility, abundance, and family continuity.

Meaning origins:

  • Grapes grow in clusters, representing family unity and generations.
  • Their abundance mirrors the harvest’s fullness and prosperity.

Customs:

  • Often displayed as offerings for many descendants (多子多孙 — “many sons and grandsons”).
  • Their jewel-like appearance makes them popular in modern decorative fruit platters.

5. Persimmons (柿子 / Shìzi)

Symbolism: Success, happiness, and good fortune.

Meaning origins:

  • “柿” (shì) sounds like “事” (shì), meaning affairs or events, so “事事如意” (shì shì rú yì) means everything goes as you wish.
  • The fruit’s bright orange-red color also represents joy and luck.

Customs:

  • In northern China, persimmons are placed beside mooncakes as a symbol of success and fulfillment.
  • Dried persimmons are used in offerings for long-lasting sweetness and harmony.

6. Bananas (香蕉 / Xiāngjiāo)

Symbolism: Family unity and learning.

Meaning origins:

  • “香” means “fragrant,” so bananas symbolize sweetness in life.
  • Their curved shape is sometimes interpreted as the moon’s crescent, tying them to lunar imagery.
  • In some traditions, they represent respect for elders and teachers, as bananas “bow.”

Customs:

  • Common in southern China and Vietnam as part of a five-fruit offering tray (ngũ quả mâm cỗ).

7. Pomegranates (石榴 / Shíliú)

Symbolism: Fertility, many descendants, and family prosperity.

Meaning origins:

  • Filled with numerous seeds, symbolizing many children and family abundance.
  • Red color adds to the festive meaning of luck and vitality.

Customs:

  • Offered by newly married couples or families wishing for children.
  • In some regions, placed next to pomelos and apples to balance meanings of protection and peace.

8. Oranges and Tangerines (橙子 / 桔子)

Symbolism: Wealth and good fortune.

Meaning origins:

  • “橙” (chéng) sounds like “成” (chéng), meaning success.
  • “桔” (jú) contains the character “吉” (jí), meaning good luck.

Customs:

  • Often part of offering plates to bring smooth progress in life and career.
  • Their golden color represents wealth and brightness.

Symbolic Fruit Arrangement Traditions

In China

  • Offerings usually feature five types of fruits (五果), each representing one of the Five Blessings (五福): longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and peaceful death.
  • The fruits are arranged roundly and symmetrically to echo the full moon.

In Vietnam (Tết Trung Thu)

  • The “mâm cỗ Trung Thu” (Mid-Autumn tray) includes pomelo, banana, apple, persimmon, and pomegranate.
  • Sometimes fruits are carved into animal or flower shapes for children’s delight.
  • It reflects the wish for a fruitful harvest, family harmony, and children’s joy.

In Taiwan and Hong Kong

  • Emphasis on aesthetic display, with fruits paired alongside mooncakes, tea, and lanterns.
  • Round, colorful fruits are preferred to signify wholeness and festivity.

Spiritual and Symbolic Layers

ThemeSymbolic FruitsMeaning
Reunion & HarmonyPomelo, GrapesRoundness and clusters symbolize togetherness
Blessing & PeaceApple, OrangeHomonyms for safety and fortune
Fertility & ProsperityPomegranate, PersimmonMany seeds symbolize many blessings
Harvest GratitudeAll seasonal fruitsThanking the heavens and ancestors
Lunar ConnectionPomelo, BananaShapes echo the moon

Summary: The Essence of Fruit Symbolism

Mid-Autumn fruits are more than festive food — they are cultural messages in edible form:

  • Round shapes symbolize wholeness and reunion.
  • Homophones and colors express fortune, protection, and joy.
  • Seasonality represents gratitude for nature’s cycles.

Every fruit on the altar or family table during the Mid-Autumn Festival embodies wishes for harmony, abundance, and continuity, aligning the human and natural worlds under the full moon’s glow.