In ancient times, farmers believed that spirits inhabited their crops causing them to grow and die. It was believed that when the crops were harvested, the spirits were released. They also believed that the crops needed to be destroyed or they would suffer the consequences from angry spirits. It was these harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations that gave way to our Thanksgiving we now celebrate.

In ancient Greece, the people honored their goddess of corn, Demeter, at their harvest festival. Thesmosphoria, held each autumn, was a three-day festival. On the first day, married women built leafy shelters and put couches made from plants inside them. The second day was a day for fasting. On the third day, a feast was given to the people along with offerings to Demeter.

The Romans celebrated Cerelia, a harvest festival that honored Ceres. Ceres is the goddess of corn (which is where the word cereal comes from) in Roman mythology. Every year, on October 4th, the festival was held. The first fruits and first pigs of harvest were offered to Ceres. The celebration included music, games, and a thanksgiving feast.

The Chinese celebrated their harvest festival, Chung Ch'ui, on the fifteen day of the eighth month (which also coincided with the full moon). This was considered to be the moon's birthday. Special "moon cakes" were made round, yellow pastries that looked like the moon and a picture of a rabbit was put on them (since the Chinese saw not a man, but a rabbit, in the face of the moon).

The families ate a thanksgiving meal, which consisted of roasted pig, harvested fruits, and their "moon cakes." The people believed that during the harvest festival, flowers would fall from the moon, and whoever was lucky enough to see them was rewarded with good fortune.

Another legend associated with this fall festival is that the people give thanks for another special occasion. Some time ago, China was conquered by enemy troops. These armies took control of the Chinese lands, homes, and foods. The Chinese people began to starve. They decided to attack their enemies in order to save themselves. The women baked special "moon cakes" in which each cake had a secret message of when they would attack. When the time came, the Chinese people easily overcame their enemies, thus winning back their homes. Every year these "moon cakes" are eaten in memory of this event.

In ancient times, the Hebrews also celebrated a harvest festival called Sukkoth. Sukkoth has

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