How Different Countries Celebrate Thanksgiving

History of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving traditions that we have right now are inspired from a harvest feast shared by Pilgrims in 1621. Farmers gathered their crops, then they had a big meal, celebrating how grateful they are for the harvest.

Thanksgiving became an official holiday in the U.S. in 1863, and in 1942, the date was set as the fourth Thursday in November. A traditional Thanksgiving meal typically includes turkey, bread stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.

Feasting, games, singing, and dancing are part of the celebrations, though traditions vary across different countries.

How Different Countries Celebrate Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in the United States

Celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving in the United States is a holiday when families and friends gather to express gratitude for the year's blessings. This tradition is rooted in religious and cultural traditions, such as offering a prayer before the turkey is carved, serving bowls of stuffing, candied yams, and cranberry sauce with pumpkin pie for dessert, and making the dinner table look presentable with a beautiful centerpiece, one of the most popular floral arrangements for this occasion is the cornucopia, a symbol of abundance and nourishment.

Thanksgiving is, more than anything, a celebration of family and home, as loved ones spend the day cooking, sharing food, and talking. Other than this, Thanksgiving in the United states also include traditional activities like:

• Thanksgiving Parades
• Football Games
• Break the wishbone for good luck
• Black Friday
• Turkey Trot
• Gift Giving

Thanksgiving in Canada

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated every second Monday of October. Canadians enjoy many of the same traditional foods as in the U.S., but they also add local favorites like ham, tourtière (pastry pie with potatoes), traditional Jiggs dinner, and butter tarts for dessert. Canadian Thanksgiving centers around celebrating the fall harvest and giving thanks for the food it provides before winter arrives. Thanksgiving tables in Canada are often decorated with vibrant floral centerpieces that capture the colors and beauty of the fall landscape.

Thanksgiving in Germany

Thanksgiving in Germany is called Erntedankfest, which means "harvest thanksgiving festival." It is typically celebrated on the first Sunday of October and marked by traditional meals such as meat and potatoes, bread, turkey, Rouladen, red cabbage, Thüringer Klösse, and other regional dishes. Flowers like dahlias and chrysanthemums are commonly displayed in churches and homes and sometimes included in parade floats, symbolizing the harvest season.

Some of the popular activities during Erntedankfest include:

• Church services
• Parades with floats and country fairs
• The crowning of the Harvest Queen or King

Thanksgiving in Korea

In Korea, Thanksgiving is known as "Chuseok," a three-day holiday where families come together to give thanks for the harvest, enjoy delicious food, and share stories. Chuseok is celebrated from September 16-18, falling on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, which is typically in September. Traditional meals during Chuseok include rice cakes called songpyeon, japchae, galbijjim, and other delicious dishes.

Gift-giving is an important part of Chuseok, as it’s a way to show gratitude to family, friends, and coworkers. Common gifts include:

• Flowers
• Meat
• Fruits
• Red ginseng
• Cash

Thanksgiving in Japan

Kinrōkanshahi, also known as Labor Thanksgiving Day, is a national holiday in Japan, celebrated on the third Thursday of November. Unlike Thanksgiving in the United States, Kinrōkanshahi honors the hard work of laborers. Traditional meals during this celebration include fish, rice, and tea.

A common activity for elementary school children on this day is making greeting cards or giving gifts to workers in the labor sector as a way to express gratitude. Popular "thank you" flowers in Japan include roses and lilies.

Thanksgiving, celebrated in various forms around the world, is a universal tradition that transcends borders. While it may not be an official holiday in every country, the act of expressing gratitude for the past year's blessings is a shared sentiment that connects people across cultures. Whether it's giving thanks for the harvest, honoring hard work, or simply appreciating life's small joys, the essence of Thanksgiving is a global language understood by all.

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