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
Sep 13, 2026Cadini di Misurina, Dolomites, Veneto, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 27, 2024Fallen but not forgotten
Mar 7, 2021Finding a balance between wetlands and water treatment
Sep 30, 2024Walruses in Svalbard, Norway
Apr 18, 2023International Day for Monuments and Sites
Apr 2, 2026Wildflower bloom, Central Valley, California
Mar 28, 2019Let us introduce you…
Jan 8, 2019A stunning national park in winter white
May 5, 2022Cinco de Mayo
Nov 3, 2022International Day for Biosphere Reserves
Oct 27, 2023Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Jan 11, 2020Who s wearing such cute hats?
Feb 24, 2018A red fox on the Swiss side of the Jura Mountain range
Feb 3, 2026Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California
Oct 2, 2025Oxbow Bend on the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Mar 31, 2020What a twist
Nov 7, 2020National Bison Day
May 7, 2024A duckling swimming in a water meadow, Suffolk, England
Apr 20, 2023Juniper Springs, Florida
Dec 23, 2018Make your list and check it twice
Jul 5, 2021How green is my valley
Feb 22, 2019A rest stop for the birds
Sep 25, 2021Autumn comes to the Porcupines
May 16, 2022Burrowing owls
Nov 10, 2021Cumberland Island National Seashore
Oct 18, 2021A Welsh wonder turns 70
Jun 3, 2020For the love of bikes
Jun 9, 2026Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
Apr 28, 2022Fox kits
Apr 1, 2024April Fools Day
Dec 27, 2019 Winterpret on ice