In Year 5 this term, we are learning how people of faith express their religious beliefs through the festivals they celebrate, the ways in which they practice their faith within their communities and through the clothing that they wear.

Today we compared 3 Autumnal festivals in the way that they are celebrated and the messages that they each convey to their faith followers:

The Christian celebration of Harvest is a festival that teaches that we should help and share those who are vulnerable and less fortunate within our community and be thankful to God.

The Hindu celebration of Diwali is a time for faith followers to reflect and and of uniting with others in their community to celebrate light overcoming darkness.

The Jewish celebration of Rosh Hashana is time for Jewish faith followers to reflect on the year that has passed and to seek forgiveness.

Our comparisons found that each of theses magnificent festivals occur in the Autumn; that each faith believes in a God or Gods (Hindus worship many Gods) and that sharing food either within or outside of their faith community is important.

We then enjoyed trying and eating ‘Apples and Honey’ which is a dish shared and eaten during the Jewish festival of ‘Rosh Hashana’ that symbolises the hope for a sweet new year ahead.