In ancient China, moon worship was tied closely to fertility and the harvest. So the full moon that happened closest to the fall equinox became the holiday now called Mid-Autumn Festival, also called Moon Festival by some. Originally a celebration of the harvest and a plea to the gods for rains to ensure a good harvest next year, the festival has become a more secular bit of autumn fun, with children and adults alike eating sweet mooncakes, lighting lanterns, and giving thanks for all they have. Really, they had us at ‘mooncake.’
Mooncake time
Today in History
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Petrified Forest National Park
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How lovely are your branches
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This reef is nowhere near the sea…
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World Rainforest Day
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Te Rewa Rewa Bridge near New Plymouth, New Zealand
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National Bird Day
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National Bison Day
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It s leap day!
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Arrr! Can you talk like a pirate?
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A splash by the sea
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A history of Vinland
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First Cliff Walk
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Acadia transformed
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White Sands National Park turns 90
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Lizard of mystery
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Smoking nights in Austria
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Endangered Species Day
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National Park Week begins
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Mandarin duck, Richmond Park, London, England
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In celebration of America’s national bird
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Cecil Brewer Staircase, London
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Are you older than this lake?
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World Book Day
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The dancing trees of Sumba Island
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Shark Fin Cove, California
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Mada’in Saleh archeological site in Saudi Arabia
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The fantastic winter fox
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Ministry of Fun Santa School
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A tree amid the Tetons
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Festivus