Asian Nations celebrate the Moon Sept 30

The Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival, is held on the 15th Day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar, which means that this 2012 it will fall on September 30th. 

The popular lunar festival, celebrated by the Chinese as well as the Vietnamese, represents the end of the fall harvest. Though popularized during the early Tang Dynasty, the Moon Festival first appeared in a written collection of rituals of the Western Zhou Dynasty, called the Rites of Zhou. 

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In 2008 it became a public holiday in China and since has become on in in Taiwan as well. Many customs and traditions come with celebration, such as eating mooncakes, floating sky lanterns, carrying brightly lit lanterns, and burning incense.

Other traditions include matchmaking, where dances are held for young men and women in hopes of finding a partner, and Fire Dragon Dances. The traditional icon for the festival is the Moon rabbit. 

Due to the rich history and culture imbedded within the festival, it is no surprise that the Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese. 

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It is the perfect time for family reunions, a time when families can gather together to watch the full moon, sing moon poems, or eat moon cakes. 

It can also be a romantic time, couples can spend a romantic evening together drinking wine and eating moon cake while sitting under the full moon. 

Psy's Gangnam Style breaks K-Pop into United States [VIDEO]

K-Pop artist Psy is making history with his new hit 'Gangnam Style' in not only South Korea, but around the globe. No other K-Pop artist has been able to compete with IU's track 'You and I" which was on the top chart for a solid five weeks -- until Psy came along. He is now tied with IU and as the 6th week mark grows closer, he may find himself the number one artist on the K-Pop Hot 100. And this track isn't just blowing up in South Korea, it has crossed international language barriers, finding itself number two on the YouTube Music Chart. Coming only after Carly Rae Jepsen, Psy is ahead of Justin Bieber, One Directions, and Katy Perry's music videos with an astonishing 60 million views, which continues to increase daily. 

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His new track and dance video features an easy-to-learn dance to a trendy electropop beat. Many writers are calling Gangnam Style the breakthrough track for K-Pop in the United States. Psy has shown an interest in increasing the track's popularity in America with several appearances on TV discussing the music video and showing off his dance moves.Some believe in order to truly breakthrough to the States, a follow up hit and a successful tour are necessary, but others think the 60 million views speak for itself. Either way, this is definitely a great time for Psy and a great time for K-Pop!

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Check out the music video for Psy's 'Gangnam Style' :

Falling in Love with Chinese Valentine's on August 23

Just as in America there is Valentine's Day, the Chinese also have a day dedicated to love and romance. The Chinese Valentine's Day, referred to as Qi Qiao Jie or the Seventh Eve, occurs on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. 

Although, there is not the typical exchange of flowers and chocolates that is associated with the American version of Valentine's Day, there are still many romantic customs and gestures associated with this day. 

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In the past, colorful "shrines" made of paper, fresh fruit, and flowers are put up in as a tribute to the first two lovers of Qi Qiao Jie. There are two legends which surround the origins of Chinese Valentine's Day. Both involve the position of the stars on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar, which falls on August 23 this year. 

On Chinese Valentine's Day, many lovers lie together and gaze at the star Vega, east of the Milky Way, a tradition that comes from one of the legends that created Qiao Jie. 

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The legend says that Niu Lang and Zhi Nu were fairies that lived on opposite sides of the Milky Way. They were quite lonely and the Jade Emperor of Heaven felt sorry for them, so he attempted to bring them together. Nui Lang and Zhi Nu became so love sick for one another that they spent every moment together and began to neglect their work. The Jade Emperor became annoyed at this, so he made a new law that the couple could only be together for one day of the year- the seventh night of the seventh moon. 

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The second legend says that the seven daughters of the Goddess of Heaven caught the eye of a Cowherd during a visit to earth. The most beautiful daughter, the seventh born, caught the eye of the Cowherd, Niu Lang. Niu Lang decided to have a bit of fun by running off with the sisters' clothing. The seventh daughter took it upon herself to ask for their clothing back. After, Niu Lang and the daughter, Zhi Nu, were married. The couple lived happily for several years, but eventually the Goddess of Heaven missed her daughter and demanded she return to heaven. Despite her demand of a return, she took pity on the heart broken couple, and allowed them to be reunited once a year, the seventh night of the seventh moon. 

Barrondo Brings Olympic History to Guatemala

History continues to be made at the 2012 London Olympics with a victory by Erick Barrondo. The 21-year-old one a silver medal in the men's 20km walk, finishing behind China's Chen Ding. This achievement marks the first ever Olympic medal for Guatemala, who have been in the Olympics since 1952. Barrondo speaks about his victory saying, "I can't believe it; I am very happy. I have made history for Guatemala. I thank my coach and all the people who supported me and who helped me achieve this victory." 

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Guatemala's President Otto Perez Molina called Barrondo to congratulate him on his race and medal. Barrondo further comments about his race saying, "It was a glorious day for me, but the glory is most of all for my country. The president congratulated me on the first Olympic medal for the country. He told me that everyone had come out on the streets to celebrate the triumph." 

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It is a proud summer for Barrondo and Guatemala!  ONCEkids Publishing celebrates the achievement of a small country winning their first medal in the very competitive Olympic games! 

Baby Bladerunner Ellie Joins Olympic Hero Pistorius

Ellie Challis as an infant

We recently introduced you to Olympian Oscar Pistorius, now please meet an even younger miracle who is also sure to inspire.


Ellie Challis, who lost her hands and lower legs to meningitis as a baby, has now become the youngest person in the world to be fitted with the flex-run feet. These prosthetic legs are also the ones used by athlete Oscar Pistorius, also known as the Blade Runner. She used to walk with conventional prosthetic limbs, but found them to be painful and uncomfortable, so her parents, Paul and Lisa, contacted the world-renowned prosthetic limb center Dorset Orthopaedic. Although worried she would not be able to balance properly on them, managing director Bob Watts agreed to to make a junior version of the carbon-fibre blades. 

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At just 16 months old Ellie was struck with meningitis. Her heart stopped and her parents were called in to say their last goodbyes to their infant daughter.

Blade Runners: Ellie and Oscar

Mother Lisa Challis says, 'We thought we were going to lose her, but amazingly she pulled through and her heart started again.' Despite the restarting of her heart, things were not looking up for the Challis family when over the next four days Ellie's legs and arms started to turn black and doctors said they would have to be amputated. After a six hour operation, Ellie was left without hands or her lower legs. 

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The blades have proven to change her life, as they did for Oscar Pistorius. Despite initial concerns, the blades have shown no negative impacts on Ellie -- who is now walking twice as fast on her new legs. Much of her inspiration and motivation comes from Pistorius, as well as her twin sister Sophie. People like Oscar Pistorius as well as baby blade runner, Ellie, are incredible demonstrations of the beauty and resilience of the human spirit. 

2012 Olympic Foils: Morganella 2nd Olympian sent packing after South Korean Racism

Following Greek triple jumper Voula Papachristou, Swiss soccer player Michel Morganella, has also been kicked out of the Olympics for a racist tweet. He was stripped of his Olympic accreditation shortly after Switzerland lost to South Korea when he tweeted that South Koreans can "go burn" and referred to them as a "bunch of mongoloids." The 23-year-old athlete later apologized at a news conference. He stated that he is "sincerely sorry for the people of South Korea, for the players, but equally for the Swiss delegation and Swiss football in general. It's clear that I'm accepting the consequences. After the disappointing result and reaction for Korea that followed, I made a huge error." 

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Regarding the tweet, Swiss Olympic team chief Gian Gilli commented that Morganella "discriminated against, insulted and violated the dignity of South Korea football team as well as the South Korean people." He further explained that he felt Morganella had been provoked by comments sent to his Twitter after the game, but under terms of the International Olympic Committee's code of conduct, they had no alternative but to send him home. South Korean fans were very angered, commenting that they felt looked down upon by Morganella. 

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Coach Pierluigi Tami stresses the importance of remembering the spirit of the games and not getting to wrapped up in the drama in his statement, "We have to focus on the game. The other stuff we don't want to think about. Maybe we shouldn't read any newspapers for the next two days." 

Firefly Squids set to attract Thousands of Tourists to Toyama Bay

Each year from March to June, thousands of tourists are attracted to the shores of Toyama Bay to witness the light show of the Firefly Squids. This period is the spawning season of the squid, when millions of squid come together to fertilize and drop their eggs in the bay, located in the central Japan Sea. Normally they live at 1200 feet underwater, but around this time of year waves in the Toyama bay pushes the squid to the surface in massive numbers. In Japan they are considered a delicacy, fished by tons during the spring and summer season, but many prefer to simply admire their beauty. 

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The Firefly Squid is a bioluminescent squid that grows to a length of only three inches. The gathering of the squids at the bay is so special and beautiful due to a unique characteristic possessed by the firefly squid, the light-producing organs called photophores, which emit a deep blue light. Tiny photophores can be found throughout the body of the squid, giving it the ability to emit light along its whole body. The flashing lights of millions of Firefly squids create a brilliant show with endless numbers of animated patterns. Firefly squids use these lights for several reasons. They can be used to communicate with rivals, attract potential mates, or to attract prey. Their lights are also thought to be used as a method of protection, confusing predators enough to allow the squid to escape. 


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Setting the uses of the lights aside, they create a breath-taking view for tourists and the people of Japan alike.