Thanksgiving is a holiday that celebrates giving thanks for the things around us that we are grateful for. This could be people, pets, religious figures, and more. Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November and is also often called Harvest Fest. A big part of this holiday in the U.S. is the giant feast, the transition from fall to winter, the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which is held every year.
To my surprise, several other countries celebrate Thanksgiving or similar holidays, as I had never heard of them before. I was curious how they differ from country to country and if any of them have special traditions that make them drastically different from our version of it.
As a recap, the United States started celebrating Thanksgiving back in 1621 after the Pilgrims and Native Americans made a truce between each other and lived in peace which resulted in a giant feast. This allowed a community to form between two drastically different groups, and allowed us to be thankful for one another and how they help us in our lives.
The first country I will talk about is Canada. Now I never thought about the fact that Canada would also be celebrating Thanksgiving with very similar reasons behind it. They don’t just celebrate to give thanks, but also because there are similar Indigenous origins that are rooted in their holiday. This was due to a feast that was held in 1579, way before the American Thanksgiving began, though it wasn’t recognized until 1879. This feast was organized by Martin Frobisher, an English explorer, who wanted to give thanks for a successful voyage to that area. Canada also holds their Thanksgiving a whole month ahead, as it’s held on the second Monday of October every year.
Germany also celebrates Harvest Fest; however there it’s known as Erntedankfest, meaning “thanks for the harvest fest.” Germany celebrates Erntedankfest in either late September or early October, as it depends on where in Germany you are. Unlike the U.S., they don’t celebrate at home, but rather at churches or outside. They hold parades and live music for the communities. They also substitute turkey with chicken and geese.
Japan has its own Thanksgiving, called Kinro Kansha no Hi, which means Labor Thanksgiving Day. It is held on November 23rd. This tradition started over 2,000 years ago with an ancient festival called Niiname-sai, which dedicates itself to the first rice crop of the year. This changed after World War II, when the event became about honoring the labor of the Japanese people. Many people often exclude the feast from their celebrations, but they do make thank-you cards and get a day off.
South Korea also celebrates Thanksgiving, where it’s called Chuseok, and spans across three days. This holiday typically starts on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which is normally in September or October. They also perform charye, which is a memorial for ancestors where they offer their newly harvested foods. They also do gift-giving, often done with food related items.
There are many more countries that celebrate Thanksgiving, each with their own personalized traditions for their communities. It is important to remember why we celebrate this holiday. It is not about the food or the parades, but rather about being thankful for those who have changed our lives for good. Yes, all of the traditions are a plus, but as long as you remember the true meaning and remind those around you that you are grateful for everything they’ve done, and remind them just how much you care and appreciate them.