Which Countries Celebrate Thanksgiving? Global Traditions Beyond the U.S.
Thanksgiving first started in the United States in 1621; it was a harvest between Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people. As the United States evolved, this feast eventually became a national holiday. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is about celebrating family, giving gratitude, and enjoying a large meal. Popular foods eaten on Thanksgiving are turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
Though the holiday most Americans know as Thanksgiving originates from the United States, there are festivals and feasts of gratitude and giving much like it celebrated in many other countries. Some version of Thanksgiving is now celebrated in at least 15 countries. Let’s look at a few of those now!
Canada
Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October. This is about six weeks earlier than in the United States. Like the U.S., Canada celebrates this holiday by getting together with family and enjoying a large meal. Though the tradition is very similar, Thanksgiving in Canada does not stem from the same origins as in the U.S. Instead, it is seen as a simple harvest, a time to enjoy and give thanks to the Earth. Thanksgiving has been celebrated in Canada since the mid-19th century. The holiday didn’t have a designated date until 1957, when the Canadian Parliament decided that Thanksgiving was to be celebrated on the second Monday in October.
Germany
In Germany, Thanksgiving is referred to as Erntedank. This holiday dates to pre-Christian pagan times. German farmers would hold celebrations at harvest time to give thanks for their luck. As a sign of gratitude, they would fill a curved goat’s horn with fruit and grain. This was named Cornucopia. As of present day, the Cornucopia is still a key part of the American Thanksgiving tradition.
In present day Germany, Erntedank is mainly a religious holiday. Celebrations, church services, and parades are usually held on the first Sunday of November. The modern version of the holiday still pays tribute to the farmers of the past, however, it mainly is a day of joy, delicious food, and giving thanks for the positive fortunes of the past year.
Japan
In Japan, Thanksgiving is known as Kinrōkansha no Hi (勤労感謝の日), which in Japanese means “Labor Thanksgiving Day”, and it’s celebrated on November 23rd every year, so although it’s close to the same time of year, the date usually differs from the American Thanksgiving. If the celebration falls on Sunday, it’s moved to Monday.
Kinrōkansha differs from the American Thanksgiving as it focuses on showing respect to those who work instead of just giving thanks for the last year. School children give cards or gifts to police offers, firefighters, hospital staffs, teachers, defense personnel, and the other people of Japan that work to help better the nation. Companies make sure to congratulate their workers for all their hard work and dedication as well. Like the United States, Japanese families get together to have dinner at home and relax.
This may come as a surprise, but there isn’t a designated “traditional” menu for Kinrōkansha. Japanese people generally plan meals with some of their go-to meals or favorite foods just like any other day, but many make sure their meal includes sekihan, a kind of rice with beans.
Saint Lucia
Thanksgiving in Saint Lucia is celebrated on the first Monday of October, making it a moveable holiday like those in the United States and Canada. Saint Lucia uses this holiday as a time for reflection and gratitude among the island’s population. Saint Lucians view it as an extra day off work, some families enjoy special meals, and a majority tend to have a more low-key celebration compared to the United States. Most of the food eaten is locally based, but other options such as jerk-roasted turkey with mango sauce are made to have more of a traditional American Thanksgiving feel.
Grenada
Thanksgiving in Grenada occurs every year on October 25 and is a public holiday. The holiday commemorates the U.S. military intervention in 1983 when a rouge government was removed. That day in 1983 ended a period of political chaos on the island, which had been occurring since the country gained independence from the British in 1974.
A typical Thanksgiving in Grenada includes community gatherings with shared meals, church services with prayers for peace and national well-being, and reflective events that honor the country’s journey through challenge and change. Meals served on Grenadian Thanksgiving combine tradition with a blend of American touch. Often had is roasted turkey alongside dishes like callaloo soup, macaroni pie, and sweet potato pudding.
Liberia
The West African nation of Liberia was formed 200 years ago by former slaves from the United States. These people brought numerous American traditions with them, including Thanksgiving. Liberian Thanksgiving occurs on the first Thursday of November, rather than the fourth. Locals who celebrate view the holiday as a religious occasion, many attending services at church to give thanks. Others celebrate by going to special concerts filled with dancing. Instead of having turkey, Liberians celebrate by eating mashed cassava, chicken, jollof rice, and other typical foods from West Africa.
