The word ‘harvest’ comes from the Old English word hærfest meaning ‘autumn’, aptly the season for gathering the food of the land. This was a vital time of year, when success was a genuine matter of life or death. A prosperous harvest ensured that a community would be fed throughout the potentially barren winter months. It’s therefore no surprise that it was also a time steeped in superstition and, if successful, much celebration. Many of these traditions even pre-date Christianity. Technology advances have changed the harvest traditions/Credit: Getty You could ask the Video questions (above) to help pupils recall the details of the film. You could also ask some or all of the questions discussed in the video: Jesus dismissed the congregation and went into the house. His disciples came in and said, “Explain to us that story of the thistles in the field.”

The corn harvest began in early August – a few weeks later than is usual now. It followed hard on gathering in the hay in early summer, making for a very busy few weeks for everyone on the farm – and beyond the farm, too, for the workload was greater than the regular labour force could manage. Every available man and woman, and many a child, was needed to get the crop in. The farmhands came to the farmer and said, ‘Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn’t it? Where did these thistles come from?’ But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance. The Meaning of the Harvest Story We have a few fall books we have and love including Fletcher and the Falling Leaves; Hello, Harvest Moon; Woody, Hazel & Little Pip; and The Autumn Equinox, and We Gather Together. Sheaves were gathered into stooks, between six and 10 sheaves leaning against each other to allow drying air to flow though. Local custom accounted for the differences in number, so that styles of stook varied across the country. In Kent the ‘hooded stook’ was preferred, in which an additional sheaf was laid on the top as a cap to keep rain off. The ‘Irish mow’ in south-west England was a pile of 20 sheaves. Whatever the style, the rows of stooks gave a characteristic pattern to the harvested fields where they remained to dry for about three weeks.We love telling stories, especially about the changing of seasons. Storytelling is such an amazing tool to reach the hearts and minds of young children. If you’re new to storytelling, here’s how I prepare for a story. The autumnal equinox for 2020 is Sept. 22 which makes the Harvest Moon on October 1. Celebrating the Harvest Moon Then she went and put her donations on the food table, with pride. And just then the cook who was making the feast appeared and said: 'Potatoes! Good! I’d just run out. Don’t worry about their shape. They’re going to be mashed anyway.' God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.

Role-play: Why not open up a Fruit and Veg Shop in your learning setting for a fantastic early years role-play during a harvest topic? Harvest celebrations pre-date Christianity, but it has always been seen as a very spiritual time to give thanks for the year’s crop. Symbolic corn dolls, made out of the last sheath of the harvest, were placed on banquet tables when parishes had their huge feasts. The doll was then kept until the spring to ensure the continuation of a good crop next year. This custom began with Saxon farmers, who believed the last sheath contained the spirit of the corn. So Sally and her parents drove to the church empty-handed. Sure enough, everyone else was laying out donations on a table. Sally wandered over and looked at all the food. She felt a bit embarrassed not to have brought anything, but she knew she was right, really. Nobody wanted wonky vegetables.

What is the history of the harvest?

That was last year - everything’s fine now,' said Samira. 'But I can’t help thinking that what happened to us could happen to - well - anyone.' Another story. “God’s kingdom is like an acorn that a farmer plants. It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years it grows into a huge oak tree, and eagles build nests in it.”

He said, ‘No, if you weed the thistles, you’ll pull up the wheat, too. Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I’ll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.’” So he explained. “The farmer who sows the pure seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of the Devil, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain of history. The harvest hands are angels.

One day in March 2016, I had gone to a garden store in Rome, Italy, my adopted city, to buy some flowers to plant for the first time in my life. Here is our British harvest guide, looking at the history and traditions of this bountiful season. When is harvest in the UK? Get cooking! Harvest Recipes are a super fun, hands-on way to learn all about harvest with young children. Sometimes, we take extra time to stop for a moon watching picnic and share in a small treat or drink to celebrate the season. The mulled apple cider from the Rooted Childhood September Collection would be perfect for this!

Mm-hm,' said Samira. 'I lost my job and couldn’t get another. I was really struggling to make ends meet - down to my last pound. But the food bank helped to keep us fed - even provided the odd treat, like chocolate cereal, to keep the children happy.' Then Dad popped his head round the door and said: “Maybe we could bring some vegetables from my vegetable patch in the garden!” Finer gym activities: Harvest-themed finger gyms like this super fun Seed Sorting Activity are great for improving little ones fine motor skills. As I stood staring at all of the amazing plants and flowers, whose names in any language were totally foreign to me (except roses, rose in Italian) I thought of how my mom would have enjoyed this scene. I literally had no idea what I was doing and was too embarassed to ask for assistance.

Well, that’s just the thing,” Mr. Fox replied. “My sons have disguised themselves as 10 fiery suns, and will not come down from their perch high in the sky. But I have a plan to get them down.”