Thanksgiving is a holiday that many people associate with the United States, but the idea of giving thanks for a good harvest is celebrated in many countries around the world. These celebrations often have their own unique customs and traditions that reflect local cultures and histories. While the food and specific rituals may differ, the spirit of gratitude and coming together is a common thread. In this blog, I’ll explore 20 unique Thanksgiving traditions worldwide.
Germany’s Erntedankfest
Erntedankfest is Germany’s harvest festival, usually celebrated in early October. It features a harvest crown made of grain, fruits, and flowers carried in a parade. Churches are decorated with autumn crops, and there are often fun fairs in larger cities. The traditional meal includes chicken, roosters, or geese rather than turkey.
China’s Mid-Autumn Festival
Also known as the Moon Festival, this celebration falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Families gather to eat mooncakes, round pastries filled with sweet bean paste or lotus seed paste. People also light lanterns and admire the full moon. The festival is a time for reunions and expressing gratitude for the harvest.
Korea’s Chuseok
Chuseok is a three-day harvest festival in Korea, often called “Korean Thanksgiving”. Families visit ancestral homes and pay respects at graves. They eat special foods like songpyeon, rice cakes stuffed with sesame seeds and chestnuts. Traditional games and dances are also part of the celebration.
Japan’s Kinrō Kansha no Hi
Japan’s Labor Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on November 23rd. It’s a day to honor labor and give thanks for production. Many schools hold celebrations where children make crafts for local police officers. Some communities hold labor festival events to celebrate hard work and community service.
Vietnam’s Tết Trung Thu
Also known as the Children’s Festival, this mid-autumn celebration focuses on children. Families eat mooncakes and give children toys and lanterns. There are dragon dances in the streets and storytelling about the festival’s history. It’s a time for family reunions and appreciating the innocence of childhood.
India’s Pongal
Pongal is a four-day harvest festival celebrated in South India. People cook pongal, a dish of rice boiled with milk and jaggery, in a new clay pot. They decorate their homes with kolam designs and thank the Sun God. Cattle are also honored during this festival for their role in farming.
Brazil’s Dia de Ação de Graças
Introduced by a Brazilian ambassador who visited the US, this celebration is held on the fourth Thursday of November. Families gather for a big meal that often includes turkey but with Brazilian side dishes. Many people attend church services to give thanks. It’s not a public holiday, but it’s gaining popularity.
Liberia’s Thanksgiving
Liberia celebrates Thanksgiving on the first Thursday of November. It was introduced by freed American slaves who colonized the country. The celebration includes American-style foods like turkey and pumpkin pie, as well as local dishes. Churches hold services where people bring fresh produce to auction.
Norfolk Island’s Thanksgiving
This small Australian island celebrates Thanksgiving on the last Wednesday of November. The tradition was brought by American whalers in the 1890s. Families enjoy a feast of pork and chicken and decorate the church with corn stalks. They sing American hymns and eat pumpkin pie.
Ghana’s Homowo Festival
Homowo means “hooting at hunger” in the Ga language. This harvest festival is celebrated by the Ga people of Ghana. They sprinkle traditional food called kpokpoi on the ground to remember a time of famine. There are also parades, drumming, and dancing to celebrate the abundance of food.
United Kingdom’s Harvest Festival
The UK’s Harvest Festival is celebrated on the Sunday near the Harvest Moon, usually in September or October. Churches are decorated with food that is later donated to charities. Schools often have special assemblies where children bring food to share. Some communities hold harvest dinners or fairs.
Canada’s Thanksgiving
Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. It’s earlier than the US version due to the earlier harvest in Canada’s colder climate. Families gather for a meal that often includes turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. Many people enjoy outdoor activities to appreciate the fall colors.
Grenada’s Thanksgiving
Grenada celebrates Thanksgiving on October 25th to mark the anniversary of the US-led invasion in 1983. It’s a way to give thanks for the restoration of peace. People attend church services and have family gatherings. Some schools put on special programs to teach about the country’s history.
Netherlands’ Thanksgiving Service
While not a national holiday, some communities in the Netherlands hold Thanksgiving services. These are especially common in areas with historical connections to the Pilgrims. The services often include American hymns and prayers of gratitude. Some Dutch-American communities organize dinners with traditional foods.
Puerto Rico’s Thanksgiving
As a US territory, Puerto Rico celebrates Thanksgiving on the same day as the mainland US. The meal often includes both turkey and local dishes like mofongo (mashed plantains). Families gather to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. Many people start decorating for Christmas right after the meal.
Argentina’s Día de Acción de Gracias
While not an official holiday, some communities in Argentina celebrate Thanksgiving. This is often in areas with large English-speaking expat populations. The celebrations usually include a traditional American-style meal. Some churches hold special services focusing on gratitude and blessings.
Switzerland’s Federal Day of Thanksgiving
Switzerland has a Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer on the third Sunday of September. It’s a solemn day for reflection rather than feasting. Many people attend church services or spend time in nature. Some communities organize interfaith gatherings to promote unity.
Malaysia’s Kadazan Harvest Festival
The Kadazan people of Malaysia celebrate their harvest festival, called Kaamatan, in May. It honors the rice spirit and gives thanks for a good harvest. There are traditional rituals, cultural performances, and beauty pageants. People enjoy local rice wine and special dishes made from the new rice crop.
Israel’s Sukkot
While not exactly like Thanksgiving, Sukkot is a Jewish harvest festival with similar themes of gratitude. People build temporary huts called sukkahs to eat meals in for seven days. They give thanks for the harvest and remember the Israelites’ journey through the desert. Special prayers and rituals are performed with four symbolic plants.
Nigeria’s New Yam Festival
Many Nigerian communities celebrate the New Yam Festival at the end of the rainy season. It’s a Thanksgiving celebration for the yam harvest. The festival includes offerings to gods and ancestors, sharing a feast of yam dishes, and cultural displays. It marks the beginning of a new agricultural cycle and is a time of community bonding.
10 American Traditions That Canadians Find Confusing
10 American Traditions That Canadians Find Confusing