Harvest around the World

What is Harvest Festival?

Harvest festivals are celebrations of the food that grows on the land.
They happen at different times of year around the world when crops
are harvested. Harvests are celebrated in different ways in different
places.
How is Harvest Celebrated?
In Britain, harvest festival is usually at the end of September. People
sing, pray, sometimes go to church and collect food to give to people
in need. In Scotland, some people also celebrate ‘Lammas’ where they
make bread and take it to church to eat. In Italy, they have olive
harvests where a priest blesses the new oil and they have a feast. In
Poland, people celebrate by lighting bonfires and throwing flowers
into rivers.
In America, they have ‘Thanksgiving’ in November, where they eat a
family roast dinner and think about when the Pilgrims shared food with
the Native Americans. In Canada, they also celebrate ‘Thanksgiving’,
but it is in October and is a time to be thankful for having enough
to eat.
In West Africa, they have ‘The Festival of Yams’ usually in August
when they share yams and dance. Yams are a vegetable, like a sweet
potato. In Thailand, the locals of Chanthaburi have a fruit harvest with
competitions, art displays and floats made from fruits and vegetables.
In India, there are many festivals where food is celebrated and shared,
sometimes cattle are worshipped too. They wear new clothes and
sometimes give gifts.
In Indonesia, during the rice harvest, they have bright flags and make
simple bamboo temples and small rice dolls. In China, they celebrate
the Harvest Moon Festival. They believe that the moon is brightest
then and it is the best time for friends and family. They enjoy picnics,
bright lanterns, moon cakes and puppet shows.
 Harvest around the World Questions
1. What do people celebrate at harvest festivals and are they all the same?


2. When do we have the harvest festival in Britain? 



3. Where do they celebrate ‘Lammas’?



4. What do they do to celebrate in Poland?



5. What do they call the festival in America and Canada?



6. How do they celebrate in India?



7. What do people make during harvest in Indonesia?



8. Which celebration would you like to be part of the most and why?

 Harvest around the World Answers
1. What do people celebrate at harvest festivals and are they all the same?
People celebrate food that grows on the land. They are not all the same - they are celebrated in different
ways in different places.

2. When do we have the harvest festival in Britain?

In Britain, harvest festival is usually at the end of September.

3. Where do they celebrate ‘Lammas’?

In Scotland, some people also celebrate ‘Lammas’.

4. What do they do to celebrate in Poland?

In Poland, people celebrate by lighting bonfires and throwing flowers into rivers.

5. What do they call the festival in America and Canada?

In America and Canada, they have ‘Thanksgiving’ festivals.

6. How do they celebrate in India?

In India, there are many festivals where food is celebrated and shared, sometimes cattle are worshipped too.

7. What do people make during harvest in Indonesia?

In Indonesia, during the rice harvest, they make simple bamboo temples and small rice dolls.

8. Which celebration would you like to be part of the most and why?
Accept pupil’s own responses with justification from the text. 


 Harvest around the World
What is Harvest Festival?
Harvest festivals are celebrations of the food that grows on the land. They are
celebrated differently, happen at different times of year around the world and are
held when crops are harvested.

How is Harvest Celebrated?

Europe: In Britain, harvest festival is usually celebrated near the end of September.
People sing, pray and sometimes go to church. Food is often collected in baskets
to give to people in need. In Scotland, some people celebrate ‘Lammas’ where they
make bread from the first wheat harvest and take it to church to eat. In Italy, they
have olive harvests where a priest blesses the new oil at a church service and towns
have delicious feasts. People celebrate the harvest in Poland by lighting bonfires and
throwing flowers into rivers.

North America: America has a celebration called ‘Thanksgiving’ in November. People

celebrate by having a family roast dinner and think about the time when Pilgrims
(who had just arrived in America) shared food with the Native Americans. It is a
national holiday and everyone gets the day off! In Canada, they also celebrate
‘Thanksgiving’ but it is in October and is a time to be thankful for having enough to
eat. Barbados has a special ‘Crop Over’ harvest in June with concerts, dancing and
competitions when it is time to harvest the sugar cane.

South America: In Argentina, they harvest wine grapes, watch amazing parades
and enjoy festivals with musicians, food, entertainers and dancers. A Harvest Queen
is chosen who then sets off a fantastic firework display.

Africa: In West Africa, there is a celebration called ‘The Festival of Yams’ usually
in August. People celebrate by dancing and sharing the vegetables with the village.

Asia: In Thailand, the locals of Chanthaburi celebrate the fruit harvest, with
exotic fruits including durians, rambutans, longans, and mangosteens. They have
competitions and art displays, and make floats from tropical fruits and vegetables.
In India, there are many different festivals. The crops are celebrated, food and drink
are shared and sometimes cattle are worshipped too. New clothes are worn and
sometimes gifts are given. In Indonesia, during the rice harvest, villages are covered
with bright flags, simple bamboo temples are put in the corners of the rice fields and
small rice dolls are placed in rice stores to keep evil spirits away. The Harvest Moon
Festival is celebrated in China. They believe that the moon is brightest at this time
in the year, so it is the best time for harvest, but also friendships. People try and see
friends and family they haven’t seen all year, they enjoy picnics and bright lanterns,
 Harvest around the World Questions
1. What do people celebrate at harvest festivals and when?


2. Why is food collected in baskets? 



3. Where do they celebrate ‘Lammas’ and what does it involve?



4. What do Americans and Canadians call their harvest festival and who inspired it?


5. Which country has a tradition of making rice dolls and where do they put them?


6. What and how do China celebrate at harvest time?



7. Name four exotic fruits you could get in Thailand.



8. Who has a festival dedicated to yams?



9. Which celebration would you most like to be part of and why?


 Harvest around the World Answers
1. What do people celebrate at harvest festivals and when?

People celebrate the food that grows on the land and they are held when crops are harvested.

2. Why is food collected in baskets?

Food is collected in baskets to give to people in need.

3. Where do they celebrate ‘Lammas’ and what does it involve?

In Scotland, some people celebrate ‘Lammas’ where they make bread from the first wheat harvest and take
it to church to eat.

4. What do Americans and Canadians call their harvest festival and who inspired it?
They call it ‘Thanksgiving’ and it was inspired by the Pilgrims who shared their food with the Native Americans
many years ago.

5. Which country has a tradition of making rice dolls and where do they put them?
Indonesia has a tradition of making small dolls made from rice stalks. They put these in rice stores.

6. What and how do China celebrate at harvest time?

China celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival. People try to see friends and family they haven’t seen all year,
they enjoy picnics and bright lanterns, eat moon cakes and watch puppet shows.

7. Name four exotic fruits you could get in Thailand.

Thailand has exotic fruits including durians, rambutans, longans, and mangosteens.

8. Who has a festival dedicated to yams?

The West African people have a Festival of Yams.

9. Which celebration would you most like to be part of and why?

Accept pupil’s own responses with justification from the text.


 Harvest around the World
How is Harvest Celebrated?
Europe: In Britain, harvest festival is usually celebrated near the end of September
when harvested food is ready to eat. People sing, pray and sometimes go to church.
Food is often collected in baskets to give to people in need. In Scotland, some people
celebrate ‘Lammas’ where they make bread from the first wheat harvest and take it
to church to eat. In Italy, they have olive harvests where a priest blesses the new oil
at a church service and towns have delicious feasts. People celebrate the harvest in
Poland by lighting bonfires and throwing flowers into rivers. They used to have an
especially unusual tradition: a crown of straw was put on a village girl. The mayor
of the village then put a cockerel on the crown and girl was led away by musicians.
If the cockerel crowed, it was considered good luck for the year ahead.
North America: America has a celebration called ‘Thanksgiving’ in November. People
celebrate by having a family roast dinner and think about the time when Pilgrims
(who had just arrived in America) shared food with the Native Americans. It is a
national holiday and everyone gets the day off! In Canada, they also celebrate
‘Thanksgiving’ but it is in October and is a time to be thankful for having enough
to eat. Barbados has a special ‘Crop Over’ harvest in June with concerts, dancing
and competitions when it is time to harvest the sugar cane.
South America: In Argentina, they harvest the grapes for wine. Crowds fill the
streets to watch amazing parades and there are festivals with musicians, food and
entertainers. Dancers take to the stage before a Harvest Queen is chosen. The queen
then sets off a fantastic firework display.
Africa: In West Africa, there is a celebration called ‘The Festival of Yams’, this
usually takes place in August. People celebrate by dancing and sharing the yams
with the village.
Asia: In Thailand, the locals of Chanthaburi celebrate the fruit harvest, with fruit
including durians, rambutans, longans, and mangosteens. They have competitions
and art displays, and make floats from thousands of tropical fruits and vegetables.
In India, there are many different harvest festivals. The different crops are celebrated,
food and drink are shared with family and friends, and sometimes cattle are
worshipped too. New clothes are worn and sometimes gifts are given. In Indonesia,
during the rice harvest, villages are covered with bright flags, simple temples made
of bamboo are put in the corners of the rice fields and small dolls made from rice
stalks are placed in rice stores to keep evil spirits away. The Harvest Moon Festival
is loved by people in China and looked forward to all year. They believe that the
moon is brightest at this time in the year, so it is the best time for harvest, but
also friendships. People try and see friends and family they haven’t seen all year.
Families enjoy picnics and different kinds of moon cakes. Children enjoy brightly lit
lanterns and puppet shows.
 Harvest around the World Questions
1. In Britain, why is the harvest festival usually celebrated near the end of September?


2. Why is food collected in baskets? 



3. What was unusual about how Poland used to celebrate?



4. What do Americans and Canadians call their harvest festival and what inspired it?


5. Which country has a tradition of making rice dolls and why do they do this?


6. How do the Argentineans celebrate?



7. Which continent is Thailand in?



8. What do you think yams are and who has a festival dedicated to them?


9. Which celebration would you most like to be part of and why?



10. If you could create your own harvest festival, who would be there, what would it celebrate,
and where/ when would you hold it?

 Harvest around the World Answers
1. In Britain, why is the harvest festival usually celebrated near the end of September?

Harvest festival in Britain is usually celebrated near the end of September because that is when the food that
we harvest is ready to be eaten.

2. Why is food collected in baskets?

Food is collected in baskets to give to people in need.

3. What was unusual about how Poland used to celebrate?

Poland’s celebration was unusual because of their old tradition with a girl and a cockerel. A crown of straw
was put on a village girl, the mayor of the village then put a cockerel on the crown and girl was led away by
musicians. If the cockerel crowed, it was considered good luck for the year ahead.

4. What do Americans and Canadians call their harvest festival and what inspired it?
They call their celebrations ‘Thanksgiving’ and it was inspired by the event in history when the Pilgrims,
who had just arrived in America many years ago, had their first crop of wheat and shared their food with the
Native Americans.

5. Which country has a tradition of making rice dolls and why do they do this?
Indonesian people have a tradition of making small dolls made from rice stalks. They make these to then
place in rice stores to keep evil spirits away.

6. How do the Argentineans celebrate?

In Argentina, they harvest the grapes for wine. Crowds fill the streets to watch amazing parades and there
are festivals with musicians, food and entertainers. Dancers take to the stage before a Harvest Queen is
chosen. The queen then sets off a fantastic firework display.

7. Which continent is Thailand in?

Thailand is in Asia.

8. What do you think yams are and who has a festival dedicated to them?
Yams are vegetables that are similar to sweet potatoes. The West African people have a Festival of Yams.

9. Which celebration would you most like to be part of and why?

Accept pupil’s own responses with justification from the text.

10. If you could create your own harvest festival, who would be there, what would it celebrate, and where/ when would
you hold it?
Accept pupil’s own responses with justified reasons.