Shenzhen, China—seen in our photo today—is a drone manufacturing hub. So, when this city celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival in 2018, a synchronized fleet of drones took to the skies over Shenzhen Talent Park and lit up in a crescent-moon shape to celebrate the lunar holiday. At other times in the performance, the drones created the shape of Chinese characters reading "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!" So, what is the Mid-Autumn Festival? It’s a harvest celebration that’s been observed by Chinese and other Asian peoples for thousands of years. The date of the celebration changes each year on our Gregorian calendar, falling on the first full moon of the harvest season, which arrives today. One major feature of the lunar holiday? A sweet pastry called "mooncake." Let it be known that we fully embrace any holiday that includes cake.
The moon rises for Mid-Autumn Festival
Today in History
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Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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International Museum Day
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Agüero, Huesca province, Spain
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Feeling chic on Fashion Week
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Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens
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Riding the bore tide at Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, Alaska
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Join the parade for World Elephant Day
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Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
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Dalyan, Turkey
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It s Tolkien Reading Day
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Glowworm caves in Australia
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Snow on the temple
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A swim in the sky
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Okefenokee Swamp
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Autumn in Piedmont
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Glenariff Forest Park, Northern Ireland, UK
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March of the flowers
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Glacial spires in the fog
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Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, Bavaria, Germany
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Groundhog Day arrives—beyond a shadow of a doubt
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The Grand Départ: Tour de France begins
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World Jellyfish Day
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National Library Week
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Ancient storage in the Grand Canyon
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National Frog Month
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