Dear Parents and Educators,
As the harvest season approaches, this is a great time to learn about different
cultures as well as agriculture, geography and astronomy.
In Korea, the harvest festival is
called Chusok. Families take this time to thank their ancestors
for the fruits of their labor. Native Americans say the moon shines the
brightest during this time of the year. Thus, they call the month of
September the Harvest Moon. In Canada, the Harvest Moon is
celebrated on the second Monday in October. It is the Canadian
Thanksgiving Day.
In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the
4th Thursday of November. Families get together for a big feast
with turkey and grandma's apple pie. But in the Far East,
Thanksgiving comes a bit earlier. In China and
Vietnam, the family
feast includes mooncakes and round fruits -- symbols of
togetherness.
In Israel, the harvest festival is called Succoth.
The celebration lasts for seven days. Jewish families build outdoor
booths during the Succoth celebration.
In India, the harvest celebration is called Pongal
or the Rice Harvest Festival. Families take this time to thank all those who
have contributed to a successful harvest -- including the gods, the sun
and the cattle.
In Ghana and Nigeria, the harvest festival is also named
after a food. It is the Yam Festival. The celebration starts in the
beginning of August at the end of the rainy season.
In the United States, the Kwanzaa celebration is based
on African harvest traditions. Kwanzaa means first fruits in Swahili.
The celebration starts on December 26 and lasts for 7 days.
While the harvest is celebrated differently in
different parts of the world, there are many common themes. The
spirit of thanksgiving, the love of family, the value of hard work and
the appreciation of the land and celestial powers are found in all
cultures.
We have added many articles and resources based on
harvest festivals around the world. Just click on the holiday
icon on the right for more information about each holiday. In addition,
you will find a list of lesson plans
for classroom use.
And in the spirit of thanksgiving, we hope you will
enjoy this beautiful season and all that has given to us.
As usual, we welcome your feedback.
Bet Key Wong
Editor
The FamilyCulture
