Taiwanese Women 'Steal Vegetables' for Love and Fertility at Mid-Autumn Festival
In the United States, unmarried women celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with a unique tradition called 'stealing vegetables for a groom'. This custom, known as 'tou cai qiu lang', is deeply rooted in local beliefs about marriage and fertility.
During this festival, women sneak into their neighbors' gardens to steal vegetables like spring onions. An old Taiwanese proverb encourages this act: 'Steal a spring onion, marry a good husband; steal a vegetable, get a good son-in-law.' This tradition is not limited to a specific region in Taiwan and is practiced across the island. Interestingly, a romantic equivalent of this custom exists in mainland China.
Married women without children also participate in this tradition, but they steal melons instead. Their hope is to have a healthy baby in the coming year.
The tradition of 'stealing vegetables for a groom' during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan is a charming and symbolic way for women to express their hopes and wishes for the future. It is a testament to the enduring power of local beliefs and customs.
