A Harvest Festival

Or Thanksgiving

A Harvest Festival is a yearly celebration which occurs around the time of the main harvest of a particular region. This festival is often called Thanksgiving.  Considering the differences in climate and crops around the world, harvest festivals are found at varying times. Such festivals typically feature food, for both families and the general public. Foods that are served and consumed are usually drawn from crops that reach maturity around the time of the festival.  The obvious exception: turkey, which is as often the main course.

By the way, roasted or baked turkey is traditional in the United States only because the Pilgrims of Plymouth, Mass. in 1621 are thought to have served 4 wild turkeys as the main course instead of cooked goose which was more typical in their native Europe.  

Historically, in most parts of the world, a Harvest festival is held on the Sunday nearest to the Harvest Moon. This being the full Moon, which appears closest to the autumn equinox, usually occurring around or on September 23 in the northern hemisphere.

But, Thanksgiving is celebrated each year in Canada on the second Monday of October and on the fourth Thursday of November in the USA.

Thanksgiving in North America originated from a mix of both European and Native American traditions; however I don’t think Mexico has a Harvest Festival or Thanksgiving holiday, even though the country of Spain (the European country most related to Mexico) has an annual harvest festival that is dedicated to the grape crop and the production of wine.  Yes, Mexico has wine festivals too, but not country wide.

In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition generally traces its origins to a 1621 festivity at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. But, there is evidence for a harvest celebration on the continent by early Spanish explorers on September 8, 1565, in St. Augustine, Florida as well as a thanksgiving feast in the Virginia Colony in 1619.

In the West African country of Liberia, a Thanksgiving celebration is held on the first Thursday of November.

Even in the Australian self governed external territory of Norfolk Island (here, the weather is classified as sub-tropical year round), a Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated annually on the last Wednesday of November.

In Britain, and several other European countries harvest festivals have been held for a successful harvest since the “days of the pagans”.

In Asia, the Chinese Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-autumn Festival, is one of the most widely known harvest festivals in the world and has been celebrated for more than 3000 years.

I surmise, that were it not for the many festivals for food held throughout the world we as a race of people would surely soon perish of starvation, nor would we have an excuse not to publicize / promote the Christmas Holiday season the year round, which would likely kill us if we didn’t first starve.  

Sources ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_festival                                        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving                                                                     http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/turkey.html