Harvest Festival

Harvest Festival is celebrated in the United Kingdom in the autumn (usually September) in much the same spirit as Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. As the name suggests, it is a celebration of the harvest, and is used as a time to redistribute some of the produce of the harvest. It is commonly celebrated in many churches and schools across the country and derives from pagan, Anglo-Saxon tradition, adapted through Christianity. Collection is made of a variety of goods, both fresh produce and tinned goods, which are displayed in the hall of the school or next to the altar in the church (or if a large amount of produce has been proferred, as decoration around the church) - after an assembly or service, these are then distributed usually to the elderly. Like Thanksgiving, the focus is on giving thanks for the good fortune of the Harvest.