The Mid-Autumn Festival originated in China. In other Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and Thailand, people also enjoy a gathering and celebration on the same day.

In the 8^th century, the Chinese culture of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival was passed to Japan. Japanese people celebrate Tsukimi (meaning "viewing the moon") on the fifteenth night of the eighth lunar month. Japanese families decorate their houses with pampas grass and admire the moon together.

Tsukimi is attached to the "Legend of the Fox, the Monkey and the Rabbit". One day, the Old Man of the moon came down to earth and pretended to be a beggar. He asked the three animals for food to see which one was the kindest. The monkey and the fox took turns to give him some food. The rabbit did not have any food, so it planned to sacrifice itself for the beggar. Moved by the rabbit's selfless action, the beggar immediately stopped the rabbit from jumping into the fire and transformed back into the old man. He brought the rabbit to the moon to live with him. Some Japanese people believe that the shadow on the moon forms a picture of a rabbit pounding mochi. Besides, they make little round white balls called "Tsukimi Dango" to express thanks to the moon for the grain harvest.

Korean people celebrate Chuseok, which falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. It is a celebration of a good harvest. They spend a three-day holiday worshipping their ancestors by preparing food offerings and expressing gratitude to them for the good harvest. Also, Korean families gather together, watch the full moon and eat traditional half-moon-shaped rice cakes "Songpyeon", which are filled with ingredients such as red beans, chestnuts and sesame.

In Thailand, the Moon Festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. Legend has it that a group of eight immortal fairies brought peaches to celebrate the birthday of Guanyin, the Goddess of Kindness and Mercy, on the day of the festival. Thai people believe that Guanyin would then bless everyone on earth. Nowadays, Thai people would pray to Guanyin during the festival. It is also a time for family reunions and moon appreciation. They enjoy peach-shaped cakes and local mooncakes filled with special ingredients such as durian. They also eat pomelos, which symbolise reunion.