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March 28th, 2024

thanksgiving around the worldA typical mid-autumn festival meal in China with crab, dumplings and moon cakes. Photo: Serious EatsELLY GRIMM • Leader & Times

 

Thanksgiving is a holiday dedicated to giving thanks and has been an established staple in the U.S. since the 17th century with the Pilgrims voyaging to the U.S. on the Mayflower.

While Thanksgiving is known by many as an American holiday, there are several other countries throughout the world that celebrate some form of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Canada celebrates its national Thanksgiving holiday takes place the second Monday of October, according to voanews.com. 

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“Canadians actually celebrated their version of Thanksgiving before the American holiday was established. The first Thanksgiving in Canada was reportedly celebrated in 1578, 40 years before the first American holiday,” an article on allthatsinteresting.com noted. “English explorer Martin Frobisher organized the celebration in Newfoundland, where he and his crew gave thanks for a successful voyage to North America. In most parts of the country, workers automatically get the day off. But for Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, it’s an optional holiday and some workers might not have the day off. Because the holiday is on a Monday, it’s generally acceptable to enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving Day feast at any point during the long weekend.”

In Grenada, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated Oct. 25, the date which commemorates the anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Grenada in 1983 and resulted in the restoration of political stability in the country.

“The origins of Thanksgiving in Grenada, though considerably different from the American holiday's origins, are inextricably tied to the United States,” a yahoofinance.com article noted. “Political turmoil in the island nation of Grenada culminated in a 1983 military coup and, ultimately, the execution of popular Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. The ensuing power vacuum left the country in chaos. Concerned about Cuba exerting communist influence on the country and the welfare of some 800 American medical students enrolled at a university on the island, President Ronald Reagan invaded the island on Oct. 25, 1983. Though the invasion was met with widespread global criticism, many Grenadians were grateful. Having learned of the American tradition, Grenadians put together Thanksgiving feasts for American troops across the country. Since the invasion, Oct. 25 has been named Thanksgiving Day on the island. The national holiday of gratitude and remembrance is celebrated primarily in more urban areas across Grenada.”

American Thanksgiving traditions have also been celebrated in Liberia, according to the yahoofinance.com article. 

“Founded by freed American slaves 1847, Liberia’s culture and government is influenced heavily by the United States. The country modeled its founding document after the U.S. constitution, and it practices some of the America’s most iconic cultural traditions, not the least of which is Thanksgiving. In Liberia, Thanksgiving typically involves a church service, after which harvest crops are auctioned off. Families then return home to feast, much like in America,” the yahoofinance.com article noted. “There are also some minor differences between Thanksgiving in Liberia and the United States. While the American holiday is held on the last Thursday in November, the Liberian Thanksgiving is held on the first Thursday in November. More importantly perhaps are the culinary differences. Because turkeys and pumpkins are hard to come by in Liberia, roast chicken and mashed cassavas usually comprise a traditional Thanksgiving meal in the West African nation.”

Some Asian countries also celebrate Thanksgiving, including Japan and China. In Japan, Labor Thanksgiving Day always takes place November 23. The holiday, which began as a fall festival, also celebrates Japanese workers, according to voanews.com. 

“China celebrates their annual Chung Chiu Moon Festival, or the fall harvest, on the 15th day of the eighth lunar cycle of the year. On this day, Chinese families come together for a three-day feast that features a sweet delicacy called the mooncake,” the allthatsinteresting article noted. “Mooncakes are round pastries that typically contain duck egg yolks, lotus seed paste, and sesame seeds. The yolk represents the full moon, and the cakes usually have the baker’s logo or insignia embossed on the top. Family and friends share mooncakes with one another, signifying unity and peace for the coming season. Families watch the full moon and sing and recite poetry about it. Chung Chiu is a particularly special holiday for couples, who can celebrate some romance under the full moonlight. Even couples that are long distance make an effort to watch the moon at the same hour.”

“On Nov. 23, people in Japan celebrate a holiday similar to both American Thanksgiving and Labor Day. The national holiday, known as Kinrō Kansha no Hi, or Labor Thanksgiving Day, traces its origins back more than 2,000 years to a ritual offering thanks for the season’s first rice harvest,” the yahoofinance.com article noted. “The widely celebrated modern manifestation of the holiday is oriented around giving thanks for workers rights. Labor Thanksgiving Day officially became a holiday in 1948 and is celebrated in different ways throughout the country. The city of Nagano hosts an annual labor festival and draws attention to matters relating to human rights and the environment. In Tokyo, preschool students make crafts for the city police force. The ancient harvest festival is still celebrated in private by the Imperial Family.”

Countries in Europe have also adopted Thanksgiving celebrations, including the U.K. and Germany. 

“Seeing as the U.S. and the U.K. have a pretty turbulent past, it might not make much sense for the English to celebrate a holiday that has become such a cornerstone of American culture,” the allthatsinteresting.com article noted. “But as it turns out, Britons are in fact embracing American Thanksgiving. As of 2014, it was recorded that one in six Brits partake in Thanksgiving festivities. Some people celebrate because they experienced the holiday while abroad in the U.S. and fell in love with the traditions, and others celebrate because they’re expats and want to keep the tradition alive. The holiday is unofficially dubbed ‘Brits-giving.’”

“Germany’s Thanksgiving equivalent is known as Erntedankfest, which translates to ‘harvest thanksgiving festival,’” the allthatsinteresting.com article  continued. “It is mostly celebrated by rural, religious groups, and is an opportunity for these farmland cultures to give thanks and honor their harvest. It is celebrated in larger cities too but is more of a church service and not much like America’s Thanksgiving. There also isn’t any officially designated day for the celebration, and festivity dates vary across the country. Usually, its celebrated in mid-September or October, but since 1972, the German Catholic Church recommends celebrating on the first Sunday in October. This is not strictly followed, however. The holiday isn’t just exclusive to Germany — most German-speaking countries also take part in the festivities, like Austria and Switzerland. Because it has religious elements, Erntedank is often sponsored by both Christian and Protestant churches. The celebrations often begin with a church service for both the larger and smaller cities. In cities, the service is followed by a parade and the presentation of the ‘harvest crown,’ or Erntekrone, to a designated Harvest Queen.”