Harvest Festivals Around the World
The harvest season falls at different times of the year depending upon region, climate, and crop, but festivals celebrating its arrival are held the world over. The following list highlights four particular harvest festivals.
Rice Harvest Festival in Indonesia (May 1 — June 30)
The Rice Harvest Festival that is held in Bali, Indonesia, is a feature of the island’s Hindu culture. The harvest time, which follows the New Year by about one month, is dedicated to the rice goddess and is a time of joyous celebration. Sculptures of the goddess are placed in the fields in thanks, towns are decorated with colored flags, and special bull races are held.
Yam Festival in Ghana (August or September)
The Ewe people of Ghana in Africa celebrate the end of the rainy season and the first appearance of yams, a staple crop. The duration and exact days of the celebration vary according to place, in hopes of driving away hunger in the coming year. People gather and hold huge feasts and activities such as dances and parades.
Sukkoth in Israel (September-October)
Sukkoth, the “Feast of Booths (棚子),” is held shortly after the High Holy Days of the New Year celebration. Special booths are constructed to recall the period of the Exodus, recorded in the local religion, when their ancestors lived in booths in the desert before entering the Promised Land.
Pongal in India (January)
The four-day festival of Pongal is a celebration of the rice harvest period. Held after the winter solstice (冬至), it celebrates the return of longer days of life-giving sunlight. Pongal is similar to other festivals held in South and Southeast Asia, but its name comes from a local word meaning “to boil” and is also the name given to a rice dish that is prepared during this time.
【小题1】What is special about Rice Harvest Festival?| A．Its connection with Hindu culture. | B．Its celebration of the rainy season. |
| C．Its respect for their ancestors. | D．Its similarity to other festivals. |
| A．In Indonesia. | B．In Ghana. | C．In Israel. | D．In India. |
| A．Rice Harvest Festival. | B．Yam Festival. | C．Sukkoth. | D．Pongal. |
