Celebrating Autumn
HOW DO CULTURES CELEBRATE THIS BOUNTIFUL SEASON ?
The light becomes a little more golden. First thing in the morning, dew appears on the ground. The air is cooler with that unmistakable earthy tinge. Without a doubt the season of “mists and mellow fruitfulness” that poet John Keats memorably wrote about is upon us. The word that summarises those verses and this season for us is “harmony”. Collins Dictionary defines this as “a combination of parts into a pleasing or orderly whole; congruity” and “agreement in feeling, actions, ideas, interests etc.; peaceable or friendly relations”. Simply put, things go together well. The satisfaction of a good harvest, a sense of new beginnings and the burst of fiery colour in the changing leaves harmoniously work together in this season of calm and clarity.
What does Autumn signify?
Moon Festival
On the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, on the night of the full moon nearest to the Autumnal Equinox, China celebrates the Moon Festival. Also known as the Mid-Autumn or Mooncake Festival, this marks the end of the autumn harvest. This tends to fall from mid-September to early October, when the Chinese believe that the moon is at its fullest and brightest. Celebrated for over 3,000 years, this festival boasts many regional customs. Making and sharing Mooncakes is an integral tradition, a rich pastry filled with lotus-seed paste, egg yolk, meat or sweet-bean. The round shape is a symbol of completeness and reunion, being shared out among family members. Cassia wine is the “reunion drink” of choice, due to the timing of the blossom on this plant, with cassia candy also being popular. Lotus roots feature in dishes to symbolise peace, with watermelons cut in a lotus shape represent reunion. Lanterns make a huge part of the festival too, carrying them or lighting them on towers, as well as floating sky lanterns. These are a symbol of beacons lighting people’s paths to prosperity and good fortune. Traditionally, a riddle is written on them and others have to guess the answers. Other traditions include dragon dances, matchmaking and courtship, gift giving and visiting friends and relatives. The three main concepts are gathering (both crops and family), thanksgiving and praying (for a good future or material satisfaction), tying together to celebrate harmony.
Rosh Hashanah
Oktoberfest
How can we mention autumnal celebrations without Oktoberfest? This is world’s largest celebration of Bavarian culture (the southeast corner of Germany), and the city of Munich is central to the festivities. This sixteen-to-eighteen-day folk festival runs from late September to around the first Sunday in October, being held since 1810. The precise origins are disputed, but it’s based on horse races and festivities held to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig 1 and the decision to repeat them annually in 1819, which grew as years went by. Since 1950, the tradition is to open the festival at 12:00 by the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer by the mayor, offering the first litre to the Minister-President of Bavaria. There is eager anticipation and bets are even made how many strokes are needed before the first beer flows! Then there is a 12-gun salute which signals the other restauranteurs to start serving the beer. There is also a traditional costume parade which is one of the highlights. It is led by notables of the city council and the state of Bavaria, traditional costume (Dirndl dresses and Lederhosen) wearers and rifle clubs, musical and marching bands, flag-wavers and decorated horses and carts. There are tents serving various food and drink specialities with an emphasis on the local and traditional, such as cheese, dumplings, and a selection of meats. This lively festival is a harmonious celebration of culture.
Dia De Los Muertos
Diwali
Diwali is the most important post-harvest festivals in India. It coincides with the new moon, being deemed the darkest night at the end of the Hindu lunisolar month (between mid-October and early November). Diwali symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, with homes, temples and workplaces illuminated with candles and lanterns. A bonding and homecoming celebration, communities, associations and families organise activities, events and gatherings. Community parades feature in towns, with music and dance performances are held in parks. Diwali is also marked by decorating the floor with rangoli designs, an art form creating patterns with coloured fine powder. Each day has a specific activity; day one (Dhanteras) consists of cleaning and decorating; day two (Naraka Chaturdashi) is a major day for purchasing festive foods, especially sweets. Day three (Lakshmi Pujan) is the height of the festival – the last day of the dark fortnight. Temples are lit up and youngest family members visit grandparents. In the evening, best outfits will be worn, prayers will be offered and even more lamps are lit. Some are placed in rows along parapets and others are set adrift on rivers, then fireworks are lit and the family get together for a feast. Day four (Balipratipada) celebrates the bond between wife and husband, with husbands giving their wives gifts, or parents of newlyweds invite them to a meal and give gifts. Day five (Bhai Duj) celebrates the brother-sister bond, where women of the family gather to pray for the wellbeing of their brothers, and return to a ritual of hand feeding their brothers, as well as receiving gifts. Diwali celebrates many elements of harmony.
Loy Krathong
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