There are many non-secular and secular harvest and agricultural Earth-centered events that take place between September and November in the United States. These events occur at dedicated times of the year and focus on ecological stewardship, the environment, and the interconnectedness of life.
Season of Creation is observed annually from September 1 through October 4. It begins on September 1 with a Day of Prayer for Creation and ends on October 4 with the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of ecology for many Christian denominations. This ecumenical initiative calls Christians to pray, act, and immerse themselves in God's life-giving water to restore damaged ecosystems and promote environmental justice.
Sukkot is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated for seven days. It is an autumn harvest festival in commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt and the end of the agricultural year. This year it will be celebrated September 25 through October 2.
For many North American indigenous communities, the Autumnal Equinox is a sacred period to thank mother earth for her bounty. It is a time for harvesting medicines, preserving food for winter months and gathering in ceremonies with prayers. This year it will be observed on September 22.
The first Thanksgiving harvest feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts was thought to take place over a three-day period sometime between September 21 and November 9, 1621, after the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people gathered their first success crop. Although the Pilgrims (Calvinist Separatists) and the Wampanoag (an Indigenous nation) held very different worldviews, they did share core spiritual beliefs based on their dependency on the land. Both societies believed that their survival and successful crops were the direct result of receiving support from their higher power.
There is no doubt that Autumn is a special time of year to reconnect with the environment. Regardless of how you celebrate it, make sure that God is at the center.
Mary Kaeding