Harvest is from the Old English word hærfest, meaning "autumn" and traditionally celebrates the successful gathering in of all the crops from the farms. People would celebrate with a meal called a harvest supper with feasting and dancing. The modern British tradition of celebrating Harvest Festival in churches began in 1843, when the Reverend Robert Hawker invited parishioners to a special thanksgiving service at his church at Morwenstow in Cornwall. We did both of these, with a harvest hop on the Saturday (with much terrible dancing) and the festival on the sunday.
That looks a fine harvest from your garden.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that Harvest Festivals in churches were a Victorian idea. No doubt there have always been harvest celebrations, originating in pagan ways of marking the seasons of the year.
I should've said that the pumpkin was bought, but the other basket veg and apples were grown by our family. Yes I think there were always celebrations for harvest, but the church harvest festival seems much more modern. Still, I love it!
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