The moon rises for Mid-Autumn Festival Sep 13, 2019

The moon rises for Mid-Autumn Festival

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.

© Liang Weiming/VCG via Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Sep 13, 2018They’re grrrape!
Sep 13, 2020Super sandy Sweet 16
Sep 13, 2021Sand, sun, and sk8ers
Sep 13, 2022Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Sep 13, 2023Hemakuta Hill, Hampi, India
Sep 13, 2024Point Reyes National Seashore, California
Sep 13, 2025Point Reyes National Seashore in California

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 21, 2019Ode to the sun
Mar 15, 2019A plot was afoot
May 11, 2025Happy Mothers Day!
Dec 31, 2022New Year s Eve in Sydney, Australia
Aug 3, 2018Taking the scenic route to Sturgis
Nov 10, 2019Sunny day, sweepin the clouds away
Jun 20, 2022Pollinator Week
Sep 18, 2018A red knot on the Shetland Islands, Scotland
Aug 28, 2021Relationship status: It s complicated
May 14, 2021A misty morning in Brazil
Jul 28, 2021A goldie gala
Nov 8, 2019Chapel on the rock
Aug 22, 2023Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia
Apr 17, 2018The Children’s Cultural Festival in Reykjavik begins today
Jun 29, 2020Goats don t grow on trees
Aug 31, 2018Let’s have a ball
Sep 10, 2020Hidden beauty in Thailand
Sep 13, 2022Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Aug 16, 2022National Roller Coaster Day
Aug 19, 2021Happy World Photography Day!
Jan 9, 2023Wind Cave National Park celebrates 120 years
Jan 17, 2022Martin Luther King Day
Jul 26, 2024Summer Olympics begin in Paris
Aug 27, 2020Rocks on the move
Jun 24, 2018The Twin Cities celebrate Pride
Jan 2, 2025Ardez, Graubunden, Switzerland
May 9, 2019An endless journey
Dec 1, 2022Antarctica Day
Oct 24, 2024Bodie State Historic Park, California
Mar 3, 2025World Wildlife Day