Harvest
I have attended a few of these festivals throughout my travels, perhaps I will recount these stories one day but alas today is not that day (sorry). Instead, here I will tell you about the general structure these festivals take but the exact events differ from region to region and even town to town.
When I was younger, my brothers and I took part in annual approximations of this festival in our home city, but it was no where near as fun as the real thing because the Capital city is not a very agricultural area and so the people don't have the reason to celebrate as they do in the rural villages.
History
This started as an agricultural festival and remains the highpoint of the social calendar for young people in rural towns and villages across out country.
With the growth of our cities, largely as a form of protection during the Long Wars, urban versions of this festival have developed however over the generations the intention of them has been forgotten and in cities it has become an excuse for excessive drinking and eating rather than as a celebration of another year of life.
Execution
On the first day the moon is sighted, a church service is held before dawn to give thanks for another year of prosperity.
At dawn, the harvest begins. This usually lasts three days (while the moon is sighted) as everything is harvested and stored in preparation for the winter.
At the end of these three days, a party is held where everyone dresses in their best to dance and sing together in celebration of the plenty brought by this years harvest.
Participants
The entire community will come together in their worship, work and celebration.
Observance
This event takes place over the time known as the Harvest moon, a reddish-yellow full moon that is seen in the sky for approximately three nights in the autumn of the year.
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