List of harvest festivals

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Mid-Autumn Festival1

List of Harvest Festivals

Harvest festivals are annual celebrations that occur around the time of the main harvest of a given region. These festivals are found in many cultures and are typically characterized by feasting, communal activities, and various forms of entertainment. Below is a list of notable harvest festivals from around the world.

Africa

• Yam Festival - Celebrated by the Igbo people and Yoruba people in Nigeria and Ghana, this festival marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the harvest of yams, a staple crop in the region.

Asia

• Chuseok - A major harvest festival in Korea, Chuseok is celebrated with family gatherings, traditional games, and the preparation of special foods such as songpyeon.
• Mid-Autumn Festival - Also known as the Moon Festival, this Chinese festival is celebrated with mooncakes, lanterns, and family reunions. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
• Onam - A Hindu festival celebrated in Kerala, India, Onam marks the homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali. The festival includes elaborate feasts, traditional dances, and boat races.

Europe

• Oktoberfest - Held annually in Munich, Germany, Oktoberfest is the world's largest Volksfest, combining a beer festival and a traveling funfair. It originated as a celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig in 1810.
• Lammas - Also known as Loaf Mass Day, Lammas is a traditional harvest festival celebrated in some English-speaking countries. It marks the beginning of the wheat harvest and is observed on August 1st.

North America

• Thanksgiving - Celebrated in the United States and Canada, Thanksgiving is a national holiday that commemorates the harvest and other blessings of the past year. It is marked by family gatherings and a traditional meal that often includes turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.
• Harvest Home - An old English tradition, Harvest Home is celebrated with feasting, singing, and decorating the last sheaf of corn, which is often made into a corn dolly.

South America

• Inti Raymi - An ancient Incan festival held in Peru, Inti Raymi is celebrated in honor of the sun god Inti. It marks the winter solstice and the beginning of a new planting season.

Oceania

• Matariki - Celebrated by the Māori people in New Zealand, Matariki marks the beginning of the Māori New Year. It is observed with feasting, storytelling, and various cultural activities.

See Also

• Agriculture
• Festival
• Seasonal food
• Traditional celebrations