As India celebrates Makar Sankranti, here are how 7 countries across the world celebrate harvest festivals

Thanksgiving in the United States of America: Popularised by American T.V shows, Thanksgiving is one harvest festival we’re all aware of. It is essentially a U.S holiday that falls on the fourth Tuesday of November where individuals celebrate the day with their loved ones sharing a wholesome meal comprising a turkey and other items. It originated in 1621, when Pilgrims celebrated their successful wheat crop with a three-day feast where they shared their meal of patridge, wild turkey and fish with Native American tribes.

Image credit: Indiatimes

Rice Harvest in Bali, Indonesia: In Bali, Dewi Sri, the rice goddess is worshipped as rice is the staple crop here. And, during this festival, villages are decorated with flags and simple bamboo temples dedicated in honour of the goddess are erected in the most sacred corners of the rice fields.

Image credit: www.inbali.org

Harvest Moon Festival in China: The Chinese Harvest Moon Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar in honour of the harvesting of the rice and wheat crops. During the Festival, families gather together to view the full moon, which is regarded as a symbol of harmony, luck and abundance. They consume different varieties of moon cakes with a good cup of piping hot Chinese tea and have an overdose of lanterns!

Image credit: BBC

Sukkot in Jersulam, Israel: Celebrating Israel’s bountiful harvests, this festival recalls the time when the Israelites wandered the desert living in temporary shelters. As a result, families build makeshift huts, or sukkah with roofs open to the sky where they eat and sometimes sleep for seven days.

Image credit: www.therocksofisrael.org

Madeira Flower Festival in Portugal: The flower festival celebrated in April fills the air with fragrance and marks the arrival of spring. Additionally, each of the island’s children brings a bloom to create the colourful Wall of Hope and the streets are lined with elaborate flower carpets.

Image credit: All about Portugal

Lammas Festival in the United Kingdom: Marking the beginning of the harves season when food is in abundance and the light begins to wane, Lammas is a festival where Britons bake bread from the new crop to leave on church altars.

Image credit: www.sustainweb.org