Most people typically don’t consider harvest celebrations beyond Thanksgiving, which is observed in the United States and Canada. Before the Thanksgiving holiday became a tradition in North America, however, harvest festivities had existed for centuries. Listed here are 10 breathtaking harvest celebrations from throughout the world.
Samhain
No, we’re not referring to the group Glenn Danzig started after the Misfits, Samhain – which translates to “summer’s end,” is a Celtic or Gaelic festival that is observed by Wiccans and other pagans all over the world to mark the arrival of winter and to honor the dead. Burning bonfires heralds the start of the new harvest year at Samhain, which celebrates the natural cycles of death and renewal. Catholicism later adopted it as All Souls Day or Halloween. Carved pumpkins are a staple of Samhain celebrations, just like they are on Halloween.
Niiname-sai
Since World War II, Niiname-sai, which means “Celebrations of the First Taste,” has been observed as Labor Thanksgiving Day in Japan. Niiname-sai is a Shinto rice festival. The Emperor must partake of some of the harvest during the rituals and offer some to the spirits in exchange for a healthy crop the following year.
Mehregan
An ancient Persian festival honouring Mithra, the goddess of light, friendship, faith, love, and kindness, Mehregan is celebrated at the start of autumn (October 8 on the Zorastrian calendar). Eating includes traditional Persian Aash cuisines that feature symbolic ingredients like pomegranate, barley, and wheat.
Yam Festival
A West African custom, the Festival of Yams ushers in the end of the rainy season at the beginning of August. Ghana and Nigeria observe public holidays in honor of the occasion. It is also known as the “Homowo” or the “Hoot at Hunger.” Yams are presented to the gods and consumed while people are having fun. Parades, drumming, dancing, singing, and, of course, eating yams in a dish called fufu are all part of the festivities.
Moon Festival
It is a Mid-Autumn Festival observed on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month in China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Vietnam. Family and loved ones can get together in the middle of autumn to celebrate the full moon, which is a sign of luck, harmony, and abundance. Families take pleasure in picnics or special meals. Adults frequently treat themselves to a wide variety of moon cakes together with a nice cup of Chinese tea. Children often love puppet shows, lantern processions, and brightly illuminated lanterns in addition to the delectable mooncakes.
Chianti grape harvest festival
The Chianti grape harvest festival, also known as La Festa dell’Uva, is the highlight of the grape harvesting season. In the little rural community of Impruneta, this celebration is held in late September or early October as it has done for decades. In addition to the over 800 local wines available for tasting, there is music, dancing, and mediaeval attire worn.
So, what are some your your favorites from the list? We hope you enjoyed reading this blog.
Happy Reading!
