As you sit around the table, feast and give thanks this month for all the people and things you hold appreciation for, YMCA Camp Collins encourages you to lend a hand in service to those less fortunate. Take time as a family during your holiday vacation (which happens to be National Family Week) to seek out an organization that you all would like to devote a little bit of time to make a big difference. Consider service with seniors, people who are homeless, animals, low-income communities or foster children.
During your service share some season of thanks fun facts, like did you know…?
Celebrating a harvest is not the invention of the Puritans. It has actually been going on for hundreds of years before. And rocks have always been areas for thrones for such celebrations.
The Greeks celebrated a harvest festival honoring Demeter, their goddess of agriculture with a 9 day feast. Persephone, the goddess of the seasons was Demeter’s daughter.
The Romans honored their goddess of harvest, Ceres, with a festival called Cerealia and done every Autumn.
Hebrews celebrated the harvest with Sukkoth also known as the Feast of the Tabernacles. This goes on for 8 days.
The Egyptians had their God of Fertility, Min, honored in an annual harvest ceremony by having the Pharoh cut the first sheaf of grain. This act was symbolic to help insure everyone would have plenty because the Pharoh was also considered a God.
The Chinese have their Harvest Moon Festival. The Japanese have field gods. The Hindu have their harvest protector and the American Seneca Indians have “Green Corn Dance” to honor a harvest. The Iroquois have their “Great Feather Dance” as a celebration of thanks for a good harvest.
The ancient Celtic people held a fall celebration the first of November as a feast to the summer’s end.
View this interesting information about the history of thanksgiving and more holiday observances in November at http://www.brownielocks.com/november.html.
