In Dongguan, there are various interesting customs during the Mid-Autumn Festival, including the "Mid-Autumn gifts giving" of Grandmas. As the lunar August approaches, Grandmas in Qishi Town of Dongguan will go to the markets to purchase lanterns and pomelos, and then deliver these gifts in advance to her married daughters' homes as a gesture of goodwill for the festival.

At the farmers' market, the stalls of the vendors are filled with festive items such as lanterns, water chestnuts, pomelos and persimmons. Besides traditional handmade lanterns, there are also electric lanterns in different shapes; besides traditional mooncakes in convenience packages, there are also exquisitely packaged mooncakes with dazzling packaging to captivate the onlookers. According to the lantern vendor, as traditional lanterns have profound meanings and are highly cherished by the locals, sales of lanterns always start booming every year on the first day of lunar August.

Su Mei, a lantern vendor at the Qishi Farmers' Market, explains that there are two types of traditional lanterns. One features a "horse riding" design, symbolizing an auspicious ambition to become top-ranking scholars. Grandmas gift the lanterns to their grandchildren, hoping that they will be intelligent in their studies and be successful when they grow up. The other type of lantern features a pattern called "four-faced genie", signifying the desire for more children and grandchildren.

Grandma Xie, a mother of three daughters, went to the market early in the morning to select traditional lanterns and pomelos for the festival. With the selected gifts, Grandma Xie will visit her grandchildren's homes before the arrival of the Mid-Autumn Festival, to convey her blessings for a joyful Mid-Autumn Festival. Grandma Xie says that the custom of "Mid-Autumn gift giving" has a long history, which not only serves as a good opportunity for the grandmas to express their blessings for their children and grandchildren's bright future but also symbolizes the inheritance of traditional festivals and family affections.

According to Grandma Xie, on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, tradition has it that Grandmas shall purchase lanterns, pomelos, apples, persimmons, mooncakes, etc. as gifts to their daughters. Lanterns symbolize the moonlight that will illuminate the future of her daughters' families, bringing prosperity and good fortune. Pomelos symbolize family reunion, while apples represent peace and well-being for everyone. Together they constitute the Grandma's wishes for her grandchildren to be healthy, happy, and successful in their studies.

On the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival, children will take out the lanterns given by Grandma, light the small candles within the lanterns, and roam the streets with the lanterns in hand while enjoying the festive atmosphere. It is also when the whole family gathers together to enjoy happiness and festivity amid the jubilant atmosphere.

东莞企石：外婆“送中秋”，传统习俗承载浓浓亲情

在东莞，中秋佳节里有着各种好玩、有趣的习俗，其中就包括“外婆送中秋”。进入农历八月 ，企石镇的“外婆”就开始忙碌起来，到市场采购灯笼、柚子等，提前到已外嫁女儿家中“送中秋”，祈求好意头。

在农贸市场，不少商家摊位上摆满了灯笼、菱角、柚子、柿子等应节物品，有充满传统味道的手工灯笼，也有形式多样的电动灯笼；有传统的简装月饼，也有各种包装精美的月饼，琳琅满目，让人眼花缭乱。灯笼摊主说，每年进入农历八月初一，灯笼销售就会开始旺起来，传统的灯笼寓意深厚，最受市民的喜爱。

企石农贸市场卖灯笼摊主素梅表示，传统灯笼有两种，一种是“骑马”图案，寓意中状元的好意头，外婆送给孙子，希望孙子长大有出息，读书聪明伶俐；另外一种“四面公”图案的灯笼，则寓意着希望女儿子孙多、多子多孙的好意头。

谢婆婆有三个女儿，她一大早就到市场挑选传统应节灯笼、柚子。挑选好礼物之后，外婆就会带着买好的东西，在中秋节到来之前，亲自送到外孙家中庆贺，为他们一家送上中秋祝福。谢婆婆说，外婆“送中秋”这个习俗已经延续多年，这一习俗不仅表达了外婆对女儿、孙子美好未来的祝福，也传递着对传统节日的传承和浓浓亲情。

谢婆婆说，八月十五外婆“送中秋”，外婆要买灯笼、柚子、苹果、柿子、月饼等送到女儿家。灯笼寓意八月十五月光照亮女儿一家的前程， 照得人丁财旺，柚子寓意月团圆，苹果寓意平安大吉、人人好，祝愿外孙身体强壮、活泼快乐、学业进步。

到了中秋节当晚，孩子们就会拿出外婆送的灯笼，点燃小蜡烛，拿着灯笼走街串巷游玩，全家老少欢聚一堂，在欢乐和喜庆中感受浓厚、喜庆的节日氛围。

文、图丨羊城晚报全媒体记者 王俊伟 通讯员 企石宣
责编 | 王楠
校对 | 潘丽玲