Seasonal Festivals - Harvest

[Excerpt of a longer piece on harvest rituals].
In Mayoria, the harvest festival begins on the first day of the harvest. After hours spent toiling in the fields, farmers gather to celebrate their good harvest and pray for a better one next year. Even during poor harvest seasons, they make sure to give their thanks, lest they anger the gods and spirits and have even worse harvests the following season.
The first day of the festival is usually marked by the lighting of a large bonfire, which is kept lit throughout the season until its very end. Food made during this time also celebrates the crops and generally shifts from summer to more autumnal produce over time.
Dances, drinking, and social activities are highly encouraged, and help bring communities together. Sometimes, smaller town outside of Mayoria have been known to collaborate on a much larger festival that integrates communities from all over the region. Politically, this helps strengthen connections, which are vital in the largely isolated area.