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Before the
establishment of formal religions many ancient farmers believed that
their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and
die. Many believed that these spirits would be released when the
crops were harvested and they had to be destroyed or they would take
revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some of the harvest
festivals celebrated the defeat of these spirits.
Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were held by the
ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, the Chinese, and the
Egyptians.
The Greeks :
The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Their goddess
of corn (actually all grains) was Demeter who was honored at the
festival of Thesmosphoria held each autumn.
On the first day of the festival married women (possibility
connecting childbearing and the raising of crops) would build leafy
shelters and furnish them with couches made with plants. On the
second day they fasted. On the third day a feast was held and
offerings to the goddess Demeter were made - gifts of seed corn,
cakes, fruit, and pigs. It was hoped that Demeter's gratitude would
grant them a good harvest.
The Romans :
The Romans also celebrated a harvest festival called Cerelia, which
honored Ceres their goddess of corn (from which the word cereal
comes). The festival was held each year on October 4th and offerings
of the first fruits of the harvest and pigs were offered to Ceres.
Their celebration included music, parades, games and sports and a
thanksgiving feast.
The Chinese
The ancient Chinese celebrated their harvest festival, Chung Ch'ui,
with the full moon that fell on the 15th day of the 8th month. This
day was considered the birthday of the moon and special "moon
cakes", round and yellow like the moon, would be baked. Each cake
was stamped with the picture of a rabbit - as it was a rabbit, not a
man, which the Chinese saw on the face of the moon.
The families ate a thanksgiving meal and feasted on roasted pig,
harvested fruits and the "moon cakes". It was believed that during
the 3 day festival flowers would fall from the moon and those who
saw them would be rewarded with good fortune.
According to legend Chung Ch'ui also gave thanks for another special
occasion. China had been conquered by enemy armies who took control
of the Chinese homes and food. The Chinese found themselves homeless
and with no food. Many staved. In order to free themselves they
decided to attack the invaders.
The women baked special moon cakes which were distributed to every
family. In each cake was a secret message which contained the time
for the attack. When the time came the invaders were surprised and
easily defeated. Every year moon cakes are eaten in memory of this
victory.
The Hebrews : Jewish families also celebrate a harvest festival
called Sukkoth. Taking place each autumn, Sukkoth has been
celebrated for over 3000 years.
Sukkoth is know by 2 names - Hag ha Succot - the Feast of the
Tabernacles and Hag ha Asif - the Feast of Ingathering. Sukkoth
begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, 5 days after
Yom Kippur the most solemn day of the Jewish year.
Sukkoth is named for the huts (succots) that Moses and the
Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert for 40 years before
they reached the Promised Land. These huts were made of branches and
were easy to assemble, take apart, and carry as the Israelites
wandered through the desert.
When celebrating Sukkoth, which lasts for 8 days, the Jewish people
build small huts of branches which recall the tabernacles of their
ancestors. These huts are constructed as temporary shelters, as the
branches are not driven into the ground and the roof is covered with
foliage which is spaced to let the light in. Inside the huts are
hung fruits and vegetables, including apples, grapes, corn, and
pomegranates. On the first 2 nights of Sukkoth the families eat
their meals in the huts under the evening sky.
The Egyptians :
The ancient Egyptians celebrated their harvest festival in honor of
Min, their god of vegetation and fertility. The festival was held in
the springtime, the Egyptian's harvest season.
The festival of Min featured a parade in which the Pharaoh took
part. After the parade a great feast was held. Music, dancing, and
sports were also part of the celebration.
When the Egyptian farmers harvested their corn, they wept and
pretended to be grief-stricken. This was to deceive the spirit which
they believed lived in the corn. They feared the spirit would become
angry when the farmers cut down the corn where it lived.
The United States In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year
in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and
plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which
was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They
found they had enough food to put away for the winter.
The Pilgrims had beaten the odds. They built homes in the
wilderness, they raised enough crops to keep them alive during the
long coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian
neighbors. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of
thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the
neighboring Native American Indians.
The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the
harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution
(late 1770's) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the
Continental Congress.
In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom.
By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated
a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a
national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a
Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth
Thursday of each November as the holiday.
Canada
Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in
October. Observance of the day began in 1879. |
