There are many festivals that celebrate the various Christian denominations.The Orthodox Church in this breaking records.All holidays are celebrated there, in their sum is approximately half of the calendar year.There are also holidays are the same for everyone - it's a great day of the Resurrection of Christ (Easter) and Christmas.The third common to all is a holiday harvest - it is easier to say, Thanksgiving.Harvest is always celebrated in the early fall, after the harvest.
Where originates this holiday?
Even in ancient times, this feast was one of the most significant for the whole year.Since agriculture was the only source of livelihood, people value each of fruits and vegetables grown by the earth.Even our ancestors - the Gentiles, who had no idea of God, and especially Christianity, worshiped the ground, called her mother and gave her a sacrifice in gratitude for all that she gave at the end of the summer.
very first mention of thanks for the food written on the pages of the Bible later creation of the world, when two brothers (descended from the first humans on Earth) was sacrificed to God food.In this way they thank him for the fact that they have something to eat and do.
Since people - a social being, it can not exist in a confined and isolated space.Therefore it is necessary to build communication in dealing with people.It is impossible to do without the habit of thanking for attention, support and much more.
and in more global terms.We are by nature, God gives harvest every year in large quantities, so we must have a grateful heart.
As it pointed out the Jews?
Jews knew that the all-seeing God expects sincere thanks.For this reason, the gift of Cain was rejected because it harbored in his heart envy rather than gratitude.God does not depend on people.It is sufficient, therefore, giving the person a life and everything in life, he expects the first fruits of the people will bring him in gratitude.When God spoke to his people how to live, he gave direct instructions about the harvest festival.In the book of Exodus written direct command that you want to monitor and observe the holiday (first mentioned here that the harvest - a collection of the first harvest from the seed of the field).Then, only later, in the book of Deuteronomy, we can see exactly how the Jews celebrated this holiday.It says that it is necessary to count seven weeks from the time you start the first harvest on the field.After that, the days Harvest - a time when people are gathering all the best in one place (as long as the person wants to give), and then rejoice and thank God.This was done to ensure that every Israeli remembered that he was in bondage to the Egyptians, and now has its own land and crops.
harvest in the church Protestants
Today, many churches celebrate and wait for the harvest time.There is no spiritual teaching, which rejected to gratitude.Christians having faith in God, convinced that everything in their life are sent by him.Even if you do not take material things, we are given much for a comfortable life for nothing.There are fine words about the material: you can buy medicines, but can not buy health;bed, but not sleep;food, but not appetite;and affection, but not love.We have the gift of every day we get sunshine, feel the cool wind, rain rejoice, walk through the snow with delight consider painting the autumn leaves, and the patterns of frost on the glass.Christians know that every moment is valuable, and there is no time to murmur or discontent.It is aware of the gifts of God in their lives, religious people are grateful for them every day, and especially on the feast of the harvest of the Church.
Each church has its own tradition of celebrating this day.Some of the account is a specific day on the calendar, many Christian communities is celebrated with a dinner and a cup of tea, thereby feeding the hungry and poor people.Harvest is also a feature of almost designer jewelery church of parishioners brought food are still lifes, composition, theme creation.Decorated with everything that can be in the hall for meetings, but special attention is given to the Department of Space (special place for preaching and instruction).
harvest for US residents
for North American Harvest - is generally a public holiday.However, there it is a little bit different name - Thanksgiving Day, which in our language means Thanksgiving.
In these countries, the holiday dates back to ancient times, when the mainland arrived English settlers, it was in 1620.On a frosty November day, overcoming a very difficult path across the ocean, moving a heavy storm on the shore and landed immigrants on the territory of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts founded the Plymouth Colony.The winter that year was very severe, frosty and windy.People who arrived without having well-equipped facilities for life, it is very difficult to adapt.Nearly half of the displaced people were killed (there were about 100 people).In spring, when the survivors began to cultivate the ground, it turned out that she was rocky and not fit for agriculture.But what was their surprise when, after a while they got a very good crop of just planted.Wanting to share the joy, the first governor of migrants Bradford organized a day of gratitude to the Lord.In the fall of 1621, along with 90 invited local Indians colonists staged Thanksgiving holiday, share a meal with the guests.Subsequently, the holiday has become a national and state on the continent, despite the fact that the harvest - the Christian holiday.
Orthodox interpretation Thanksgiving
Although Orthodox Christians do not identify any of his holidays as the harvest, they also have days of thanksgiving to God for the harvest and His gifts to people.In the days of harvest of this religion - these are some holidays that are mentioned products and harvesting.These days are Honey Spas, Spas Bread, Feast and others.These holiday falls on a time when the end in the fields of agricultural work, it is the period from the beginning of August to early October.These days Christians that faith and thank God for all that they've got a new crop, for strength, health and food.And also very close such holidays overlap with national signs.For example, everyone knows the saying: "Honey Spas, prepare gloves in reserve."That is, in a way they draw an analogy with the Christian holidays and folk weather observation.
How to celebrate today?
In this age of modern technology and creative thinking are still people who tend not to ascribe to nature presents its automated work and God's blessing for the people.Currently harvest - it is a holiday that has two meanings.The first - thanks to the Lord for the multiplication of the number of products planted several fold.No wonder the Bible says: "... what goes around, comes around ... goes around liberally - reap abundantly sow sparsely, scantily sow ..." So it turns out: a man puts a bucket of potatoes, gets 10 buckets, put a tonIt receives 10 tons.The second value - summing up some of the results of his actions and thoughts, as well as evaluation of the image of his life.Harvest Christian involves assessing people - their life corresponds to Biblical principles, whether they come as Christ taught.
Why is it important to thank?
Grateful Heart is always a price.Who wants to do for you something, if you take it for granted?All nice for a good deed to get thanks.Christians believe that all that is in their life, sent by God.Indeed, we do not depend on the rains in early June, which are vital for all plants.Even the best watering will not replace a good rain in June!It does not depend on us the amount of solar heat and light, which are also food for our vegetables and fruits.Do not we regulate frost in early April, which could kill the nascent life in the kidneys.For timely rains, the ability to plant and harvest crops Christians should thank the One who provides all this.Therefore, the harvest festival was introduced.
If we take into account only the scientific aspect of gratitude that scientists have long shown that life satisfaction determines its quality.This takes into account and state of health (from grateful people, it is much better), and activity, as well as close friendships and professional success.
Harvest: Value holiday on the spiritual level
Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated not only to eat, to bring the best fruits and talk (though this is important).Even Christians are paying special attention to the spiritual component of the day.Harvest Festival in the church still held to remind the congregation that we sow in life.On this day, everyone asks himself the question: "Do I sow good in relationships with others? Do Lives in me a love for others, patience, kindness, compassion, because these qualities is very necessary for people?"and so on. d.
that said Harvest Bible?
Much attention is paid to the Bible spiritual meaning of the holiday.There are so many references to different books, that somehow opened the significance of this day.Harvest Festival is also covered in the Holy Book as the end of the world.There's the question of the shower comes autumn of life, a man soon to die, where will his soul after death?The Bible draws the attention of all the people that every man shall be saved.That is, you need to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for every sinner that believing in Him, the man was in heaven and not to hell.
