Why stealing pumpkins for newlyweds is a blessing in ancient Chinese tradition
Por Zoey Zhang — South China Morning Post – News feed
Advertisement Trending in China People & Culture Trending in China Why stealing pumpkins for newlyweds is a blessing in ancient Chinese tradition
Some northern communities traditionally place a pumpkin under the wedding quilt as a blessing for future generations
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Zoey Zhang Published: 6:01pm, 18 Oct 2026
In ancient China, welcoming autumn could involve stealing pumpkins, sitting on giant hanging scales and eating extra meat – rituals reflecting how people connected seasonal change with fertility, health and good fortune.
Historical records show that during the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), groups of young people would gather on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival to sneak into fields and take pumpkins.
Far from being considered wrongdoing, the practice was often tolerated – and even welcomed – by farmers. By the Republican era (1912–1949), it had become particularly prevalent in rural communities.
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