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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Dark skies over New Mexico
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World Childrens Day
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Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii
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It s leap day!
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Composite image of a lunar eclipse
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The mountaintop of toppled gods
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Tiny fliers head south
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Mardi Gras
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East River crossing
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Red skies at Ruby Beach
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Here’s looking at you, teachers
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A horse of many colors
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A crush in Lavaux
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Swimming into the season
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Reflections on the mighty Amazon
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Borrego Badlands
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Total solar eclipse
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Big sky at Big Bend
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Diving into the underwater nirvana
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Cosplay strongly encouraged
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Celebrating Flag Day
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The Pearl of Siberia
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Arrone in Umbria, Italy
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Arrr, it be Talk Like a Pirate Day
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World Octopus Day
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Presidents Day
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High seas commerce