Hilltowns Senior News for Friday, September 16, 2016

The autumnal equinox is upon us, and virtually every tribe and religion has a harvest festival of some kind to thank God, the Gods and/or Goddesses, or the other spirits of life and plenty for the past seasons. It is one of the balance points, when day and night are equal, and the year turns toward rest and sleep and death, only to awaken again in spring.

Excerpts from the website Lectionary Bible Notes provides this commentary: “Harvest is one of the most wonderful times of celebration in the church year. Nobody gets killed, there is just unbridled joy at the beauty and providence of creation... At harvest time we thank God, for all of the gifts which have been given to us, and all of the opportunities made available to us from the world and its resources.

“Yet this planet is not ours to do what we want with. It is made by God and we are privileged to have a time here to look after and enjoy it. The expectation is that we will pass it on to our children in a better condition than we found it... No harvest festival service should ever take place without a time of prayer when we think of the shocking conditions prevalent in parts of the world where people die for lack of resources which we routinely throw away.”

The Jewish harvest festival is known as Succoth or the Feast of the Tabernacles. Its purpose is twofold. It has agricultural significance as stated in the Book of Exodus, and in Leviticus, it is also intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt.

Throughout the holiday, meals are eaten inside the sukkah, a hut roofed with branches, and many people sleep there as well. Among its symbols are the etrog fruit, which resembles a lemon, and a sheaf of leaves, known as a lulav, made of palm, willow, and myrtle branches. The palm stands for uprightness, the willow stands for humility, and the myrtle stands for faithfulness. Together they stand for brotherhood and peace.

Wiccans celebrate the feast of Mabon, and use a red altar cloth, with fall vegetables, grains, and fruits to symbolize the harvest, and give thanks to the Goddess. It marks an important transition of the year, as plants die, animals hibernate, and the Earth rests in preparation for the cycle of rebirth in spring.

The ancient Chinese observed that the movement of the moon had a close relationship with changes of the seasons and agricultural production. Hence, to express their thanks to the moon and celebrate the harvest, they offered a sacrifice to the moon on autumn days. For the holiday, special sweet “Moon Cakes” are baked and eaten.

In the United States, Thanksgiving was originally held on Oct. 3. In Canada, it is the second Monday in October.

Thanks to all the faiths, paths, and people, the one harvest we all share is gratitude.

Coming up

September is Baby Safety Month, Cholesterol Education Month, Fall Hat Month, International Women's Friendship Month, National Service Dog Month, and Self Improvement Month.

The coming week, Sept. 18 through 23 is the International Week of the Deaf, Deaf Dog Awareness Week, Sea Otter Awareness Week, Remember to Register to Vote Week, International Air Ambulance Week, National Clean Hands Week, and National Farm & Ranch Safety and Health Week.

National Ceiling Fan Day, and Wife Appreciation Day are on Sept. 18. The 19th is Talk Like A Pirate Day.  The Autumnal Equinox is Sept. 22 at 10:21 a.m. EDT, as well as Hobbit Day, and Ice Cream Cone Day. Checkers Day or Dogs in Politics Day is the 23rd. The 24th is International Lace Day, and International Rabbit Day.

A trip is planned to the Festival of Nations in Albany on Sunday, Oct. 23. Cost (including transportation) is a whopping $4. Enjoy foods, dances, and crafts from many countries. Sign up at the senior center, or call Phyllis at 872-9370.

There will be a presentation titled “Understanding Medicare Open Enrollment and the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program” on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at the Carondelet Hospitality Center in Latham from 9 a.m. to noon. The program is free, but you must register in advance. Call the Albany Guardian Society at 269-3976.

Lunches have started up again at the Westerlo Reformed Church, on Route 143 in the village, on the fourth Thursday of each month.

There will be a basket-weaving class at the Knox town hall on Monday, Sept. 26. Call Pat Lightbody at 872-9400 for more information.

Menu

We are also grateful for the harvest of lunches that will be served next week at the Helderberg Senior Center. Come swap tales with friends, and enjoy a lunch that you don’t have to cook. Doors open at 11 a.m., and lunch is served promptly at noon.

— Monday, Sept. 19, spaghetti with meatballs, romaine salad, wheat bread, fruit salad, and milk;

— Tuesday, Sept. 20, chicken cacciatore, broccoli, egg noodles, wheat bread, Mandarin oranges, and milk; and

— Friday, Sept. 23, turkey tetrazzini with peas, Brussels sprouts, wheat bread, vanilla pudding with whipped topping, and milk.

Please call Linda Hodges 24 hours in advance to 872-0940 to reserve lunch, or email her at: , or sign up when you come in. Tell us how many are coming, your name, and your telephone number. If you’d just like to come and help out, give Mary Moller a call at 861-6253, or email her at , and put “volunteer” in the subject line.

Lunches are provided by Helderberg Senior Services, the Albany County Department of Aging, and Senior Services of Albany. The Town of Berne Community and Senior Services Center is located at 1360 Helderberg Trail (Route 443) in Berne.