Autumnal Equinox: The Spiritual Transition Celebrated in Harvest Festivals

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The harvest festival is a pagan celebration that has roots in ancient agricultural rituals. It is a time to give thanks for the bountiful harvest and to celebrate the abundance of nature. This festival is typically held in the autumn, when crops are at their peak. It is a time when people come together to give thanks for the food on their table and to honor the cycles of life and death. The harvest festival is often marked by feasting, dancing, and music. It is a time of joy and celebration, as communities gather to share in the abundance of the earth.


For some even that was too much commitment, so those only interested in the honeymoon period could be joined as Lammas Brothers and Sisters, a sexual union lasting only the 11 days of the fair.

Baked goods, such as cornbread and fruit-laden bara brith, were common at the feast table alongside summer fruits, and libations like whisky which, being made of grain, was a particular favourite. Those made from the last corn cut were considered especially powerful as they held the corn spirit and would take a place of honour at the feast table and be buried in spring to let the spirit return to its work.

Harvest festival pagan celebration

It is a time of joy and celebration, as communities gather to share in the abundance of the earth. The main idea of the harvest festival is to express gratitude for the harvest and to celebrate the cycles of nature. It is a time of community and connection, as people come together to share in the bountiful gifts of the earth.

Harvest Home

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Select Citation Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Feedback Also known as: Ingathering Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Article History Table of Contents Category: History & Society also called: Ingathering . (Show more) Related Topics: England harvest cailleac harvest festival . (Show more)

Harvest Home, also called Ingathering, traditional English harvest festival, celebrated from antiquity and surviving to modern times in isolated regions. Participants celebrate the last day of harvest in late September by singing, shouting, and decorating the village with boughs. The cailleac, or last sheaf of corn (grain), which represents the spirit of the field, is made into a harvest doll and drenched with water as a rain charm. This sheaf is saved until spring planting.

The ancient festival also included the symbolic murder of the grain spirit, as well as rites for expelling the devil.

A similar festival was traditionally held in parts of Ireland, Scotland, and northern Europe.

Harvest Home, also called Ingathering, traditional English harvest festival, celebrated from antiquity and surviving to modern times in isolated regions. Participants celebrate the last day of harvest in late September by singing, shouting, and decorating the village with boughs. The cailleac, or last sheaf of corn (grain), which represents the spirit of the field, is made into a harvest doll and drenched with water as a rain charm. This sheaf is saved until spring planting.
Harvest festival pagan celebration

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Reviews for "Harvest Festival Crafts: DIY Projects for Celebrating Nature's Bounty"

1. Jane - 2/5 stars - The Harvest Festival Pagan Celebration was a total disappointment for me. I expected a vibrant and energetic event, but it was simply lackluster. The activities were limited and felt forced, and the atmosphere was not at all festive. The organizers seemed unprepared and it felt like they just threw everything together at the last minute. I was really looking forward to experiencing the spiritual and cultural aspects of the celebration, but it fell short on all fronts. Overall, I would not recommend attending this event.
2. John - 1/5 stars - I had high hopes for the Harvest Festival Pagan Celebration, but unfortunately, it was a complete letdown. The event lacked organization and the activities offered were repetitive and uninspiring. It felt like a simple market with a few random pagan decorations thrown in. The vendors were generic and didn't offer anything unique or interesting. I went home feeling like I wasted my time and money. If you're looking for an authentic pagan celebration, I suggest looking elsewhere because this event simply doesn't deliver.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - The Harvest Festival Pagan Celebration was not what I expected. The advertised spiritual and magical experience was nowhere to be found. The event lacked the depth and connection to nature that I associate with pagan celebrations. Instead, it felt like a commercialized version of what a pagan celebration should be. The workshops and performances were mediocre at best, and the overall ambiance was not immersive or engaging. I left feeling disappointed and wishing I had spent my time and money on a different event.

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