Why does China set up the Farmers’ Harvest Festival?

The reason for the establishment of the "Chinese Farmers Harvest Festival" is to mobilize the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of hundreds of millions of farmers, while at the same time publicizing and displaying the long and profound farming culture, so that people can enjoy the spiritual influence of farming culture.

At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on June 21, 2018, Han Changfu, Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Pan Xianzheng, Director and Spokesperson of the General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, gave detailed answers to the origin and purpose of this festival. related questions.

Han Changfu said that the central government decided to establish the "Chinese Farmers Harvest Festival" during the critical period of poverty alleviation, the decisive stage of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and the first year of implementing the rural revitalization strategy, which will greatly mobilize hundreds of millions of people. The enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of farmers are a powerful force in fighting poverty, building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, implementing the rural revitalization strategy, and accelerating the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

"The 'Chinese Farmers Harvest Festival' is a festival for hundreds of millions of farmers to celebrate and enjoy the harvest. It is also a vivid manifestation of bumper crops, peace and prosperity for the country and the people." He said, "Chinese farming culture has a long history and a long history. 'China As a distinctive cultural symbol, the Farmers' Harvest Festival gives new connotations to the times, helps to publicize and display the long and profound farming culture, inherit and carry forward China's excellent traditional culture, promote the organic integration of traditional culture and modern civilization, and enhance cultural self-confidence and nationality. ”

Han Changfu said that in the process of accelerating industrialization and urbanization, people’s memory of traditional farming culture is fading. The establishment of the “Chinese Farmers Harvest Festival” allows people to use the festival as a medium. Releasing emotions, inheriting culture, and finding belonging can gather people's emotional sustenance for that mountain, that water, that field, and enjoy the spiritual influence of farming culture.

According to him, during the National Two Sessions in 2017, 45 deputies to the National People’s Congress proposed the establishment of a harvest festival. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs conducted research on domestic and foreign situations, and invited experts, scholars and farmer representatives in the fields of agriculture, culture, media and other fields for discussions. Everyone generally believes that it is necessary to establish a "Chinese Farmers Harvest Festival", and the foundation and conditions for its implementation are mature.

Extended information

The consideration behind setting the Autumn Equinox as the Harvest Festival for Chinese farmers

From the perspective of solar terms, spring planting and autumn harvest, spring flowers and autumn fruits, the autumnal equinox is full of fruits. It best reflects the harvest. As one of the 24 solar terms, the autumnal equinox is an equal period between day and night. The autumn air is crisp and clear. It is not only an important time for autumn harvest, autumn plowing and autumn planting, but also a great time for the fragrant rice, fat crabs and chrysanthemums, and a great time to enjoy the autumn scenery.

From a regional perspective, our country has a vast territory and rich products. The harvest seasons vary from place to place, but most places fall in autumn, and the bulk of the crops are harvested in autumn. Therefore, taking into account both the north and the south, the Autumnal Equinox is designated as the "Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival", which facilitates the participation of urban and rural people and farmers, and is also conducive to displaying the harvest results of agriculture, which has distinctive agricultural characteristics.

From a folk custom perspective, more than a dozen ethnic minorities in my country have traditional festivals to celebrate the harvest, such as the Harvest Festival of the She people, the Wangguo Festival of the Tibetan people, and the Torch Festival of the Yi people, most of which are held in the second half of the year. Establishing a festival at the national level for all ethnic groups to participate in and celebrate the harvest will help promote the harmony, unity and development of the Chinese nation.

People's Daily Online-my country has established the "Chinese Farmers Harvest Festival" and the full answer to the origin of the festival