[AJA TALK] Harvest Festival and Thanksgiving Ceremony in the world

Childrenaretaughtbyaultabout'Chare' (Photo: Newsis)

Harvest festivals and thanksgiving ceremonies are the celebrations held all over the world in the honor of the successful harvest season. Traditions and celebrations are different and it is always interesting to know something new about customs other countries have. The AJA Talk meeting, took place August 22nd, gave the possibility to participants from Romania, Poland, South Korea and Uzbekistan to tell about harvest celebrations and its features in their respective countries.

AJA Global Reporters are discussing about Harvest festival and thanksgiving ceremony in their country.

South Korea: Chuseok

Jinny Kook presented traditions of Chuseok celebrations in South Korea. Chuseok, known as Korean Thanksgiving Day, is one of the most significant holidays in Korea. Chuseok, also called Hangawi, is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth month by the lunar calendar. It is a family holiday as brings all families all together to celebrate it. The holiday lasts three days and you can see people mass movement all over the county. Everyone is going to join the family in their hometown to give gratitude to the ancestors for the harvest. Special food in their honor is cooked.
One of the important ceremonies is Charye. It is one of the ancestral memorial rites that have been done for thousand years in Korea. It is a special arrangement of the food on the table. Every food has its proper location according to the special zone. For instance, rice and soup are placed on the north, while fruits and vegetables are on the south. On the west and in the middle, meat dishes are served and, on the east, rice cake and some drinks such as makgeolli or soju are placed.
People are sharing a feast of traditional food, including a certain kind of rice cake called songpyeon, steamed on top of pine tree leaves.
Another feature of Chuseok is traditional folk dance Ganggangsullae. Dance is performed by women wearing hanbok, Korean traditional dress, under the full moon in the night. There are no any special and complicated movements. Women make a big circle by holding hands of each other, and sing a song while they are going around a circle.

Kamila Yuldasheva, Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan: ‘Gurvak’ Melon Festival

Agriculture is one of the prior and large sectors of the national economy in Uzbekistan. Fruits are symbol of abundance in Uzbekistan. Due to the warm climate and a long growing season there are different juicy and sweet fruits in the country, including peaches, grapes, watermelon, melon, apples, pears, etc. Every region in Uzbekistan usually celebrates a successful harvest holiday, devoted to appropriate fruit.
Kamila Yuldasheva told about ‘Gurvak’ Melon Festival, held recently in the ancient city Khiva. Sweet melon is one of the main symbols of summer in Uzbekistan. Melons are not only very tasty, but also healthy. About 36 kinds of melons are grown in different regions of Uzbekistan. ‘Gurvak’ is well known in Khorezm, region where Khiva city is located.
During the festival, guests chose the most delicious melon, and participants demonstrated the way to cut melons and ability to distinguish melon sorts.
At the festival other fruits were also presented. Guests of the festival could enjoy performance of the folklore and theatrical groups, young pop singers contest and an exhibition of national craft works.

'Gurvak' Melon Festival (Photo: Uzbekistan National News Agency)

During the festival, participants demonstrated the way to cut melons and ability to distinguish melon sorts. (Photo: Central Asian Online Travel Company)

Madalina Barta, Romania

Romania: Grapes harvest

Madalina Barta told about grapes harvest in Romania. Country with about 10 million ha of arable land produces, one of the famous wine producers, has its traditions. Families who have their own piece of land encourage all members to get involved in the grapes harvest and wine production.
Some people wear national clothes while gathering grapes. There are families who use the traditional way and mechanism to produce wine, which consequently is kept in the special barrels in the basement of the houses.
People in Romania also celebrate grape harvest by organizing a sort of festivals accompanied by feasting and music. The highlight of public celebration is to squish grapes with bear feet. Right given to accomplish this activity is provided to the young girls.

People celebrate grape harvest by organizing a sort of festivals wearing traditional costume.

Young girls squish grapes with bear feet.

Michael Mocarski, Poland

Poland: Dozhinki

Michael Mocarski from Poland talked about ‘Dozhinki’ harvest festival. It is an annual celebration in Poland, came from Slavic tradition. Dozhinki is celebrated on the fall equinox (September 23) or during the first Sunday after the equinox.
Celebrations feature different interesting traditions. One of them is weaving of the wreath. It is a sort of crown made usually of flowers and ribbons. However some of them are composed with berries, nuts and harvested crops. In the past people even put live roosters in it. The woman, best harvester, is getting privilege to wear this beautiful and unique crown.
The activities held on the occasion of Dozhinki include thanksgiving mass in church, wearing traditional costumes, baking special bread, singing and dancing, eating and drinking. It is time for joy and fun as reward for hard work.

Girls are wearing beautiful and unique flower crown. (Photo: www.polish-texans.com)

The activities held on the occasion of Dozhinki include thanksgiving mass in church, wearing traditional costumes, baking special bread, singing and dancing, eating and drinking. (Photo: www.polish-texans.com)

By Kamila Yuldasheva, Uzbekistan, AJA Global Reporter