Celebrating Together: Harvest Festival
We’re pleased to announce a new blog series that provides a space for our staff and volunteers to “celebrate together” and talk about different cultural events and traditions, starting with Harvest Festival.
“Celebrating Together” gives our team a platform to share what these events mean to them, how they celebrate and perhaps even how it relates to our values here at Citizens Advice LeicesterShire.
When we take the time to listen to others’ experiences, it creates a working environment that encourages connection and makes people feel seen and valued. We also want to be clear and reiterate that Citizens Advice LeicesterShire is here for everyone in our community, no matter who you are, and regardless of your background.
Also, to those who observed them, we hope you had a happy Diwali and an easy fast for Yom Kippur last month.
Harvest Festival
Helen, our Head of Resources, attended the Harvest Festival in her local area this October.
Harvest festivals are celebrated every year in churches and schools across the UK, usually during a harvest moon, by displaying fruits, vegetables and sometimes tins of food. Initially, it was a celebration of the crops that were grown when the UK was a mostly agricultural society. It is also a time of reflection, as we think about what we’re grateful for.
Helen described her experience: “I live in a rural village surrounded by farmland, so the Harvest Festival is a good time to pause and give thanks for all the food that’s been grown and gathered.”
“Our celebrations centre around the village church, which we fill with seasonal flowers, fruit and vegetables. The village school has a church service singing harvest songs. It is a time to celebrate the season, appreciate what we have, and give a little back to others.”
Gratitude and helping others
Helen also described the presence of foodbank donations at the event. In fact, Citizens Advice LeicesterShire works with food banks in Lutterworth and the villages, as well as in a range of locations across Hinckley and Bosworth. We work with people to maximise their income so they no longer have to rely on emergency food provision.
The festival is a good time to acknowledge what we already have, and how we can help others who might be struggling to make ends meet.
It’s a great opportunity to get involved with your local community, give back by donating to food banks and maybe get inspired to think about growing things yourself in the upcoming year, or simply what personal goals you want to work on.
Find a food bank near you:
- Visit the Trussell Trust website to find a local food bank (either to donate or to find support, e.g. food vouchers and emergency food)
- Contact your local council. They can help you find a local food bank and tell you what other help might be available
- Contact us at Citizens Advice LeicesterShire to find a local food bank and tell you what other support is available
Keep an eye out for more “Celebrating Together” blogs as our team shares their cultures and traditions.