Many across the world are familiar with American Thanksgiving, thanks largely in part to the media and commercialism.
But it may surprise Americans to know that not only does Canadian Thanksgiving predate American Thanksgiving by 40 years, but many other cultures around the world celebrate their own Thanksgivings in appreciation of different historical events in their countries.
Here are three Thanksgivings from around the world.
Canada
As mentioned, Canada’s inaugural Thanksgiving celebration predates that of America by over four decades.
Martin Frobisher, the English navigator, led an expedition in 1578 that conducted a gratitude ceremony in present-day Nunavut, expressing thanks for delivering their fleet to safety.
This event is recognized as the first Thanksgiving celebration in North America, even though the indigenous peoples of Canada, known as First Nations, and Native Americans had been observing harvest festivals long before the arrival of Europeans.
During the Revolutionary War, Loyalists who migrated to Canada brought with them American traditions, including the one of turkey.
Establishing a national Thanksgiving Day in 1879, Canada now celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October.
Like their southern neighbor, Canadian Thanksgiving traditions involve football and consuming a large spread with family.
Japan
Japan‘s version of Thanksgiving, known as Kinro Kansha no Hi (Labor Thanksgiving Day), has its origins in the ancient Niinamesai rice harvest festival, dating back to the seventh century A.D.
The festival is celebrated on November 23, and as a “Labor Thanksgiving Day,” it’s viewed as a tribute to the rights of Japanese workers.
Unlike the American holiday, this one is centered around the values of community involvement and hard work.
Labor organizations hold events, and children often make thank-you cards for essential workers, like garbage collectors, firefighters, and policemen.
Germany
Erntedankfest – or the “harvest festival of thanks” – is the German counterpart to Thanksgiving.
This religious observance commonly occurs on the first Sunday in October.
It is celebrated differently in rural areas versus urban ones.
Small towns tend to embrace the literal essence of the harvest festival, while city churches in Germany express gratitude for the prosperity experienced by their congregations throughout the year.
Typically, Erntedankfest involves a church procession, carrying an Erntekrone – or a “harvest crown” of grains, fruit, and flowers.
The celebration involves indulging in hearty dishes like der Kapaun (castrated roosters) and die Masthühnchen (fattened-up chickens).
This blend of religious and cultural traditions reflects a unique German approach to giving thanks during the harvest season.
As you can see, Thanksgiving may be celebrated around the world for different reasons and events, but it seems to me that humans are universal in wanting to share in gratitude.
Success Across Cultures 