Sowing and Reaping

Sowing is planned and organised planting of crop which is to be nurtured and cultivated. Reaping or harvesting is the process of collecting the ripe crops from the fields, marking the end of the growing cycle in the nature.

RELIGION AND TRADITION

A spiritual meaning of reaping have been honoured in almost all the ancient world religions. The significance of a generous harvest for human preservation have always compelled people to pray to the superior powers, to celebrate them and be grateful to them. In many primitive cultures, the harvest season was celebrated as a national holiday. In proposing toasts, the first thing to be wished for – besides health for the host – was a plentiful harvest, berićet (a Turkish word for an abundant year and a plentiful harvest).

Orthodox festivities honour the natural side of celebrations of nature as a God’s implement through which He bestows life. The Pentecost festivity have preserved some elements of an erstwhile first-fruits offering (prvina) (the first grain crop to ripen) to God as a token of gratitude in a form of  bringing the grass to the church and by making garlands.There are similar customs connected with other summer festivals – on the St John’s Day or Midsummer Day, for instance, when flower garlands are made; and on the Transfiguration Day, when grapes are blessed.

HISTORY

In the olden times, harvest was done in a traditional way – manually, using simple tools: sickle, scythe, fork and rake. In modern times and on vast areas, harvest is done with the use of farming machines – a combine, a harvester, a tractor and other implements that could be attached.