Thanksgiving is the quintessential American holiday. Just saying the word conjures up images of pilgrims and Native Americans gathered around a feast of turkey, cranberries, and other holiday staples. But did you know a day of giving thanks and celebrating abundance is actually a pretty common theme around the world? Here are some other versions of Thanksgiving from different countries.
Canada
Our neighbors up north have the most similar celebration to ours, complete with a turkey feast. The Canadian Football League also plays a special game to celebrate the holiday, comparable to our big NFL game. Basically, it’s a day to celebrate family and eat a lot of food. The main difference between the Canadian and American Thanksgivings is the date – Canada celebrates on the second Monday of October. (Sources: TravelChannel.com and HistoryChannel.com)
United Kingdom
London – a decidedly un-rural location for a harvest festival. Although, it is home to the Royal Horticultural Society, which sponsors an October festival. This is kind of like a fall celebration in general, as it features gigantic pumpkins and vegetable growing competitions. Attendees get to try various types of apples (the quintessential fall fruit) and learn how to become almost as good at gardening as the proud owners of those giant pumpkins. (Source: TravelChannel.com)
Germany
Erntedankfest means “The Harvest of Thanks” in German. It’s celebrated on the first Sunday in October and features a parade (almost as good as Macy’s) and carnival. The décor centers on fruits and vegetables – pretty appropriate for the harvest theme. A more formal aspect of the day involves a procession to church. The congregation comes bearing fruits and vegetables in an Erntekrone, which sounds a lot like a cornucopia. Of course the Germans do include food in the celebration, but it’s mainly chicken and more chicken. HistoryChannel.com lists the main entrees as “die Masthühnchen (fattened-up chickens) or der Kapaun (castrated roosters).” (Sources: TravelChannel.com and HistoryChannel.com)
Israel
Sukkot is a traditional Jewish holiday with biblical origins. The name translates to “Feast of Booths” or “Feast of Tabernacles.” It commemorates the Israelites’ wanderings through the dessert following their release from slavery in Egypt. During this time they lived in temporary shelters which were called “sukkot” or “booths.” This may not seem to have a lot to do with Thanksgiving, but it is also a harvest festival and thus also known as Chag Ha-Asif, “The Festival of Ingathering.” The occasion is marked by special foods and prayers, but the most distinctive part is the building of a sukkah (singular form of sukkot). Families are encouraged to spend most of their time during the holiday in this temporary shelter, to remember how the Israelites wandered in the desert. (Sources: JewFaq.org and Chabad.org)
China
The Mid-Autumn Festival is the main time of year where the Chinese reflect on good fortune and give thanks. It is a time to express a longing for distant family members, similar to how we visit with our extended family during Thanksgiving. The holiday is centered on the moon, as the festival is held in August at a time when the moon is full and the summer harvest has been gathered. Also, the holiday is based in part on the legend of Chang E, a woman who flew to the moon and resides there to this day. Although there are many different foods eaten, the defining dish for this festival is a Mooncake, a type of pastry filled with a sweet paste that can be made from a variety of ingredients – locust seeds, red beans, and jujube (dates) to name a few. The festival is probably the oldest one on this list; it’s been around for over 1,000 years. (Sources: TravelChinaGuide.com and TravelChannel.com)
Studying different cultures is fascinating and it’s interesting to see the themes of gratitude and family come up time and again through different celebrations. It seems the need to recognize our good fortune is universal. But as for me, I still love a good old-fashioned American Thanksgiving, complete with turkey and that slice of pumpkin pie.