In the distant village of Zhuang, there is an ancient and beautiful legend about the birth of the moon. The protagonist of the story is a peerless beauty named Yue Mei, who is known for her kindness and diligence. The three grapefruit trees planted in front of her house are filled with golden fruits every autumn, and she always generously gives these sweet fruits to her neighbors.
Yue Mei is not only skilled in weaving colorful lanterns and sturdy grass shoes, but also has a heart of exploring the unknown and daring to contribute. In that era, the night sky was as dark as ink, and the stars were hidden. Whenever night fell, the earth was plunged into darkness, and people’s lives were filled with inconvenience and loneliness. Yue Mei had a bold and beautiful wish in her heart – she dreamed of hanging a bright lamp in the sky, illuminating the night and warming people’s hearts.
However, the road to the sky is unreachable and unknown to anyone. Faced with numerous difficulties, Yue Mei did not back down. She firmly believed that heaven and earth were connected, and there must be a secret path to heaven. So, this young girl, only seventeen or eighteen years old, embarked on a difficult journey to find the path to heaven with a firm heart.
Yue Mei carries a carefully crafted lantern on her back, holding a straw shoe bow and a bag of fragrant sesame seeds symbolizing time. She travels through towering mountains and winding rivers, enduring wind and rain day after day, year after year. Her grass shoes were worn out one pair after another, and the sesame seeds were reduced one by one. Time left silver marks in her hair, but her faith never wavered.
Finally, one day, Yue Mei arrived at a strange place. In front of her was an endless sea of clouds, churning endlessly, but not a single droplet of water was seen. Exhausted, she rested on a large stone resembling a jade plate, continuing to weave her grass shoes. At this moment, a mysterious wind blew and a large stone slowly rose, carrying Yue Mei through the clouds and reaching the sky.
Yue Mei looked up and found herself above the clouds, with magnificent mountains and rivers and bustling human life beneath her feet. She was thrilled and immediately lit the lantern, scattering the remaining sesame seeds around. Instantly, the jade like boulder was illuminated by the lantern’s light, turning silver white and dazzling, becoming the most dazzling moon in the night sky; And the scattered sesame seeds turned into scattered stars, embellishing the vast night sky.
From then on, whenever night falls, people can look up at the bright moon and twinkling stars, which are the light and hope that Moon Sister brings to the world with love and persistence. In commemoration of this brave young girl, August 15th is designated as the birthday of the moon, and Moon Sister is also revered as “Moon Grandma”. Her story is passed down from generation to generation, inspiring people to pursue their dreams and explore the unknown.
In Zhuangxiang, every August 15th, every household shares pomelos to celebrate this special day, while also following ancient customs. Through sharing and mutual assistance, they convey the selfless and generous spirit of Yuemei. And those funny stories about stealing pomelos add a touch of festive joy and warmth, making people remember this beautiful legend with laughter.