Bucks Free Press nostalgia expert Mike Dewey writes:
In the UK the celebration of the Harvest Festival is traditionally held on the Sunday nearest to the Harvest Moon.
That is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox (September 22 or 23). This year that is Sunday, September 24.
Although of pagan origin the festival has been celebrated for hundreds of years in churches and chapels throughout the UK.
Members of the congregation would bring in produce from their garden, the allotment or farm to decorate the church or chapel.
This was then frequently distributed among the poor and senior citizens of the local community, or used to raise funds for the church, or a local charity.
In recent years many local communities have broadened the concept of the Harvest Festival to include all sorts of activities, including music and dancing, and also to other venues such as schools.
We show here pictures of Harvest Festival celebrations in local communities over the last hundred years or so.
More pictures will appear next week together with a history of the festival, which is held in many countries throughout the world.
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