Cirencester has been since Roman times a market town, serving and caring for the community in the surrounding Cotswolds.
This Harvest Festival donations of food were collected for the Harvest Service and after the service with the collection of more food purchased, were given to the local food bank .
The tradition of harvest festivals is not just local to the UK, versions of harvest festivals are celebrated around the world. In the far East, Chinese celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and in India they have Makar Sankranti and in the Jewish calendar, Sukkot is celebrated.
As is tradition at Harvest festival, the food is often distributed among the poor and senior citizens of the local community.