John W. Young standing next to the Lunar Module Orion during the Apollo 16 mission, April 21, 1972. Credit: NASA
the 50th Moon Landing Anniversary Day
Jul 20
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Party like it's 1969!"
July 20th marks the 1969 landing and moon walk made by Neil Armstrong and crew of the Apollo 11! Celebrate with a Moon Pie! The Moon Pie is a southern American confection, first introduced in 1907 consisting of two large round graham cracker cookies, with marshmallow filling in the center, dipped in chocolate, and was originally conceived as the perfect snack for a Kentucky coal miner who wanted something sweet "as big as the moon." Apart from evolving into a Mardi Gras "throw item" during the annual parade, Moon pies are also a traditional celebratory food for remembering the Apollo 11 moon walk for aerospace workers and enthusiasts across the globe. 🌝
As The Moon Turns
Today we celebrate Moon Day! Moon Day to commemorates the day man first walked on the moon, on July 20, 1969.
The Apollo Space program, begun by President John F. Kennedy, was created to put the first man on the moon. Apollo 11 fulfilled that vision, with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr.
On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 was launched from Cape Kennedy Space Center atop a huge Saturn V rocket. On July 20, 1969, the Lunar Module, nicknamed the "Eagle", touched down on the surface of the moon at Tranquility Base. Upon landing, Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong reported "The Eagle Has Landed." A few hours later, Neil Armstrong, stepped off of the Eagle's ladder, placed one foot upon the moon's surface and proclaimed: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind".
The "Moon Pie" a traditional southern treat, is now a celebratory food for remembering the Apollo 11 moon walk. Moon Pies are used in the commemorative celebration by aerospace workers and enthusiasts across the globe. Moon Pies generally consists of two round graham cracker cookies, with marshmallow filling in the center, dipped in a coating.
Moon Pies have been made at the Chattanooga Bakery in Tennessee since 1917. Earl Mitchell Junior said his father came up with the idea for Moon Pies when he asked a Kentucky coal miner what kind of snack he would like to eat, and the miner requested something with graham crackers and marshmallows which had been dipped in chocolate. When Mitchell's father asked how big it should be, the miner looked up in the night sky and framed the full moon with his hands.
See below for a modern version of the recipe with dulce de leche marshmallow filling.
And to see the dance performed by the Valley Scottish Country Dancers and the Thistle Scottish Country Dancers of Nova Scotia, see below.
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
