Become a fan of h2g2 Today, Harvest Festival or Thanksgiving is
celebrated every year, but just as is the case with Christmas
and Easter, few people in the Western Hemisphere are aware of
the true meaning of this custom. In a time when many people just
go to the supermarket and buy whatever takes their fancy, it is
not surprising that people don't seem to be aware of how much
time and effort it takes to grow plants from seed to the fruits,
vegetables and cereals they buy, because nowadays all of these
are available all year round. However, our ancestors knew what
they were thankful for, which is why some forms of celebration
have been held for millennia. At first, people made sacrifices
to various gods and goddesses, often in the form of an animal
which was killed for the purpose, or by leaving or even burning
fruits, vegetables or cereals. Traditions in Ancient Times - The
Romans celebrated Cerelia, paying tribute to Ceres, the goddess
of cereals, on 4 October by offering her the first harvested
fruits and p