Monday 9 June 2014 Feast Of The Moon Cakes

"ARTEMIS "WAS THE "GODDESS" OF THE HUNT AND THE MOON, AND LIKE HER TWIN BROTHER, APOLLO, SHE HAD A WIDE RANGE OF FUNCTIONS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY. AS A VIRGIN GODDESS, SHE WAS FIERCELY PROTECTIVE OF HER OWN CHASTITY AND THAT OF THE BAND OF MAIDENS WHO RAN BESIDE HER. "ARTEMIS" LOVED ALL OF THE ANIMALS OF THE FOREST, BUT HER FAVORITE WAS THE DEER. ACCORDING TO THE MYTH, WHEN SHE WAS VERY YOUNG, SHE WENT TO HER FATHER, "ZEU"S, AND PLEADED WITH HIM TO ALLOW HER TO LIVE A FREE AND HAPPY LIFE UPON THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS. "ZEUS "GRANTED HER WISH, AND THIS WAS HOW SHE BECAME THE GREAT HUNTRESS GODDESS OF THE FIELDS AND FORESTS.

AS "APOLLO" WAS THE GOD OF THE SUN AND THE BRIGHT DAYLIGHT, SO "ARTEMIS" WAS THE GODDESS OF THE MOON WHO BROUGHT LIGHT TO THE DARKNESS. SHE WORE A CROWN SHAPED LIKE A CRESCENT MOON UPON HER HEAD. SHE LOVED TO HUNT BY MOONLIGHT; AND WHEN THE GREEKS MADE STATUES OF HER, THEY SOMETIMES REPRESENTED HER WITH A TORCH HELD HIGH IN ONE HAND AND A BOW IN THE OTHER. OAK GROVES AND FRESHWATER SPRINGS WERE ESPECIALLY FAVORED BY "ARTEMIS. "

ON THIS DAY IN ANCIENT GREECE, PEOPLE HONORED THE MOON GODDESS, "ARTEMIS," WITH THE FEAST OF THE "MOON CAKES". THE ORIGINAL FESTIVAL APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ONE OF SYMBOLIC HUMAN SACRIFICE. OFFERINGS OF THESE "MOON CAKES", STUDDED WITH CANDLES, WERE PRESENTED TO THE GODDESS AT THIS FESTIVAL. THIS CUSTOM IS STILL SEEN WITH OUR OWN BIRTHDAY CAKES.

"(MOON CAKES ARE PASTRY CRUSTS WRAPPED AROUND A SWEET FILLING)"

Credit: my-spiritual-path.blogspot.com