It all goes back to the cookie!
Today's blog comes courtesy of Troyce.
The history of fortune cookies may date back to the 13th and 14th centuries when China was occupied by the Mongols. The traditional lotus nut paste Moon Cakes were used in which to hide secret messages regarding the date of a popular uprising against the invaders. The moon cakes were distributed by the patriotic revolutionary Chu Yuan Chang (disguised as a Taoist priest) who was safe in the knowledge that the Mongols had no taste for lotus nut paste. The uprising was successful and so the basis of the Ming Dynasty was formed.
The transition from Moon Cakes to modern-day Fortune Cookies was born out of necessity in the hard days of the American gold rush and the railway boom. When the Chinese 69'ers were building the great American railways through the Sierra Nevada to California they put happy messages inside biscuits to exchange at the Harvest Moon Festival instead of cakes, and so Fortune Cookies began. A cottage industry emerged as the Chinese settled in San Francisco and until 1964 (when the first automated production started) they were made by hand. In China, the Harvest Moon festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, which means it tends to fall in mid-August, however, this year it falls in early September.
The history of fortune cookies may date back to the 13th and 14th centuries when China was occupied by the Mongols. The traditional lotus nut paste Moon Cakes were used in which to hide secret messages regarding the date of a popular uprising against the invaders. The moon cakes were distributed by the patriotic revolutionary Chu Yuan Chang (disguised as a Taoist priest) who was safe in the knowledge that the Mongols had no taste for lotus nut paste. The uprising was successful and so the basis of the Ming Dynasty was formed.
The transition from Moon Cakes to modern-day Fortune Cookies was born out of necessity in the hard days of the American gold rush and the railway boom. When the Chinese 69'ers were building the great American railways through the Sierra Nevada to California they put happy messages inside biscuits to exchange at the Harvest Moon Festival instead of cakes, and so Fortune Cookies began. A cottage industry emerged as the Chinese settled in San Francisco and until 1964 (when the first automated production started) they were made by hand. In China, the Harvest Moon festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, which means it tends to fall in mid-August, however, this year it falls in early September.
Yesterday's full Moon was a Harvest Moon!
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Come a little bit closer
Hear what I have to say
Just like children sleepin'
We could dream this night away.
But there's a full moon risin'
Let's go dancin' in the light
We know where the music's playin'
Let's go out and feel the night.
Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon.
When we were strangers
I watched you from afar
When we were lovers
I loved you with all my heart.
But now it's gettin' late
And the moon is climbin' high
I want to celebrate
See it shinin' in your eye.
Because I'm still in love with you
I want to see you dance again
Because I'm still in love with you
On this harvest moon.
Neil Young - Harvest Moon
(courtesy of www.lyricstime.com)
It's always about the cookie! The 16th was the anniversary of the cookie and it is calculated by the Harvest Moon.
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