Most cultures living in Temperate climates, that is, people who have to face Winter, celebrate a "harvest festival" in the Fall to celebrate the gathering of the main crops, the slaughtering of most domestic animals (who could not be fed over the Winter) and rendering the carcasses into smoked and salted meat, and the preparation of cheese, sauerkraut, wine and cider. One last feast was held before the lean, and restricted, diets of Winter and early Spring began. In America, this ancient custom survives as Thanksgiving day.