Does the Rest of the World Celebrate Thanksgiving?
During this time of year, everyone is thinking about Thanksgiving. It’s a wonderful time to get together with family and have a great meal. It is one of my favorite holidays. However, all around the world there are many different types of people giving thanks in autumn. Just like America, Canada has its own Thanksgiving Day. There they call it Jour de l'Action de Grâce. It is extremely similar to what we do here. Unlike America, Jour de l'Action de Grâce takes place on the second Monday of October. It also is not a big shopping day in Canada like it is in America. Here in America, almost every family goes out during Black Friday. Instead, they think of Jour de l'Action de Grâce as a great day to go hiking or just to be outdoors instead of shopping.
In Israel, the Jewish people celebrate a holiday called Sukkot. This year it was celebrated from September twenty third to the thirtieth. It is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. It celebrates all the time the Jews spent in a desert while on their way to the Promised Land. Candles are lit in the evening and they eat challah dipped in honey. They build sukkahs, a shelter made from organic materials, and they are used to eat meals, sleep, and take communion during festivals. During Sukkot, they try to fast and eat as little as possible so they can focus on prayer. It is a very special time of giving thanks for Jewish people.
In Korea, they celebrate a special holiday called Chuseok. It’s an important harvest festival that tends to last three days, next year it will be celebrated from September twelfth to September fourteenth. It is considered Korea’s most important holiday. They often put on performances in honor of Chuseok. In Korea, they encourage people to shop and most retail stores stay open for most of the holiday. They mark things down and have great deals, sort of like America. Since most live in the city, many people visit relatives or their hometown during Chuseok. For Koreans, it’s a great time to get together with family and friends and give thanks.
In the UK, they celebrate London's Harvest Festival. They have animal shows, large horticultural displays, craft activities, and serve local food. They sell large pumpkins and produce from miniature gardens; you can spin apple juice or create your own metalwork from the forge. It’s a great place to get together with families and be thankful for the good harvest.
In Germany, they celebrate the holiday Erntedankfest. It’s literal translation is “Thanks for the Harvest Festival”. Their Church Altars are traditionally decorated with wheat, fruits, vegetables, and bread to represent a good harvest. They sing, celebrate, and often have two services on Sunday. Later in the day, they create a basket full of the local’s harvest and give them to the needy. They also have a famous Harvest Parade. In the evening children participate in Laternenumzug as they walk through the streets holding up colorful lanterns. At night when the day is over, they have a big firework show to end the day. There are so many other holidays around the world where people just want to give thanks; like in Barbados, they celebrate the end of the harvest of Sugar Cane. In India they celebrate Pongal, a festival dedicated to their Sun God giving thanks for the good harvest. In China they celebrate August Moon Festival, and in Vietnam they celebrate Tết Trung Thu Festival. Finally, in Ghana, they celebrate Homowo Festival. Being grateful for what we have is a part of being human. All of these countries celebrate not only a great harvest, but it focuses on family and friends. For me and my family, that’s the most important thing in life. People of different cultures aren’t so different after all. Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Sources:
"Giving Thanks around the World." Travel Channel, www.travelchannel.com. Accessed 26 Oct. 2018.
"How to Celebrate Sukkot." Chabad, www.chabad.org. Accessed 26 Oct. 2018.
Karen Anne. "What Is Erntedankfest? Is It German Thanksgiving?" German Girl in America, 26 Sept. 2017, germangirlinamerica.com/.
Ladner, Mimsie. "What to Do in Seoul during Chuseok." Culture Trip, 29 Sept. 2017, theculturetrip.com.
"London Harvest Festival." Farm Garden, www.farmgarden.org.uk/london-harvest-festival.
Morrison, Lara Rutherford. "Eight Ways Canadian Thanksgiving Is Different from American Thanksgiving." Bustle, 20 Nov. 2015, www.bustle.com. Accessed 26 Oct. 2018.