Harvest Festival in Germany
Description:
This holiday is rooted in Roman customs. On this day, people rejoice in a good harvest and thank God for his gifts of nature (vegetables, fruits, cereals, berries) and that he cares about people. In return, the believers return part of his gift.
The harvest festival was celebrated in pre-Christian times. It has been celebrated in the Catholic Church since the 3rd century. It was first celebrated in Prussia in 1773 on the first Sunday after Michael's Day (29 September), after which it became a regular. The date of the first Sunday of October was approved in Germany by the Catholic Church in 1972, and each parish of the Evangelical Church determines its own holiday date: the first Sunday of October or after Michael’s Day.
The ancient peasants believed that the harvest was guarded by the spirit that gave it growth or death. The spirit will yield a good harvest if he is satisfied and happy, and will destroy the harvest if the peasant does not please him or offend him. In this regard, this holiday was celebrated earlier as a victory over the spirits.
Today is the day of completion of the field work and thanksgiving to God for his gifts. On this day there is a special service in the church. At the same time, the church is decorated with the best fruits of the new harvest, wreaths of wheat. These harvesting and harvesting wreaths are made in advance from the ears of the last sheaf. Vegetables, fruits, cereals are illuminated and laid out in front of the altar.