Time to Celebrate
When Yorkshire Appetite were mere children growing up in Yorkshire, Harvest Festival was one of those big events that really signified the year’s shift. You know, like when you can no longer get away with wearing flip flops in October and everyone starts talking about the “big” tin of Quality Street. But back to the festival—every year we’d dig about in the cupboard to find tins of food we could offer along with an assortment of vegetables and drop them all off at school or Sunday school. A bit like a bizarre Ready Steady Cook – offering a challenge to make a meal out of two carrots, a marrow and some tinned pears.
Now, if you didn’t grow up with Harvest Festival, let me break it down. It’s a mash-up of pagan traditions, Christian influences, and a whole load of regional folklore, all mixed together with a pinch of British quirk. It got a big boost in the 19th century when churches started decorating like it was the harvest version of Christmas, and the whole village got together to donate food. It’s celebrated on the Sunday closest to the harvest moon (you know, the big, dramatic full moon that makes you want to howl at it).
Now, let’s take a little detour to Kerala, India. The folks over there know how to throw a harvest party. Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala, lasts a whopping 12 days! And on the final day, called Thiruvonam, it’s all about the Sadya—a massive vegetarian feast served on banana leaves. We’re talking 25+ dishes, people. Yes, 25! This festival celebrates the mythical King Mahabali’s homecoming and is all about prosperity, joy, and a good bit of community spirit. And guess what? Our friends at Kerala Restaurant and Tharavadu in Leeds were kind enough to share the Sadya feast with us, so we could get a little taste of the magic here in Yorkshire.
Feeling hungry yet? Why not join us on the Yorkshire Appetite’s Indian Food Tour of Leeds and dive into the rich, spicy flavours of Kerala and other regions of India. Oh, and because it’s harvest season and we’re feeling generous, use the discount code HARVEST10 for a sweet 10% off any of our tours in September and October. Go on, treat yourself!
