Now that the autumn term is in full swing, schools are turning their attention to harvest festivals – and today we look back at those in years past.


A harvest festival is an annual celebration that occurs around the time of the main harvest. With the differences in climate and crops around the world, harvest festivals can be found at various times at different places. They typically feature feasting, both family and public, with foods that are drawn from crops.
In Britain, thanks have been given for successful harvests since pagan times. Harvest festivals are held in September or October, depending on local tradition. Modern celebrations include singing hymns, praying and decorating churches with baskets of fruit and food.
In British and English-Caribbean churches, chapels and schools, and some Canadian churches, people bring in produce from the garden, the allotment or farm. The food is often distributed among the poor and senior citizens of the local community or used to raise funds for the church or charity.
Our main picture shows St Matthew’s Church of England School pupils Jude Wilkinson, 10, and Rebecca Williamson, five, with some of the produce gathered for their harvest festival at St Matthew’s Church, Westnewton.

(Image: Newsquest)
Above are Sandra Jeffrey, Malcolm Carruthers, Stephen Cooper and Brenda Irving preparing for the harvest thanksgiving at Belle Vue Primary School in 1969.

(Image: Newsquest)
Another black and white image shows pupils from Longtown Junior School handing over their harvest festival produce in 1981.

(Image: Newsquest)

The North Lakes Foodbank was the beneficiary of St James' Junior School's harvest festival. Pictured are headteacher Andrew Beattie and teaching assistants Kathryn Milligan, left, and Angela Brown with the school council.

(Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

Moor Row School had the same idea, while Kinderpark Nursery donated their produce to Carlisle Foodbank.

(Image: Newsquest)
In 2015, celebrity chef Peter Sidwell baked harvest festival bread and rolls with Lamplugh School pupils.

(Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

Our final two images are from further back, with one showing children from HK Campbell School, Carlisle, at their Harvest Festival in 1967 and the other the1975 harvest festival at Cummersdale School.