American Thanksgiving is in the offing, and a public holiday in the US. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in America (Nov 22nd this year), and for most of us, it’s quintessentially American. But that’s not true; here is a list of the countries across the world (on various dates, though) that celebrate it with as much aplomb and style.
-
Canada
Canadian Thanksgiving (or l’Action de grâce) became an official national holiday in 1879, although it was first celebrated commemorating the annual harvest in the 16th century. It is observed on the second Monday of October every year, and with turkey, stuffing, gravy and pie, it feels uncannily similar to its American counterpart.
RELATED: What Makes Canada The Coolest Arctic Destination Ever
-
Liberia
A country in Africa, Liberia was given a new life when the Americans freed the slaves here and gave Liberians a free country to live in. That explains why American customs and holidays, including Thanksgiving is religiously celebrated here. Thanksgiving is observed in Liberia on the first Thursday of November. People are grateful to their free nation and cherish the fruits of the harvest. Local ingredients like chicken, cassavas and spices are used the most in the lavish meals that are prepared for the feast.
-
Norfolk Island
View this post on Instagram
A tiny, tiny Australian island – Norfolk Island celebrates American Thanksgiving on the last Wednesday, rather than the fourth Thursday of November every year. The tradition was introduced to the island in the 1960s by American whalers, who brought classic recipes like pumpkin pie and cornbread to the island with them. It’s fascinating how well the custom was embraced; it’s still celebrated with so much panache.
-
The Netherlands
Thanksgiving isn’t a national holiday for the Dutch. But in one town of The Netherlands – Leiden – there’s an annual Thanksgiving celebration on the same day as the American holiday. Many American pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1609, actually lived and worked in Leiden till 1620, and called the city their home. The locals assemble in a 900-year-old Gothic church, Pieterskerk, to honour the determination of those early American settlers.
-
China
The Chinese have been celebrating Thanksgiving for more than 2,500 years; long before America was even discovered. Also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival, the day is celebrated to express gratitude for the changing of the seasons and the fall harvest. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, typically in late September or early October when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. The Thanksgiving staple in China is the moon cake: a baked concoction filled with sesame seeds, ground lotus seeds, and duck eggs.
6. Germany
The annual harvest festival in Germany (or Erntedankfest) is typically held on the first Sunday in October. Adopted by the Christians; it is celebrated across Protestant and Catholic churches, and the day is marked by parades, fireworks, music, and dancing. And of course a lavish feast of chicken, hen, rooster, or goose.
-
Vietnam
View this post on Instagram
The Vietnamese too celebrate Thanksgiving (or Têt-Trung-Thu) on the same day as the Chinese – on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar. According to Vietnamese folklore, the holiday is held as a way for parents to make up to their children who may have felt neglected when they were busy with the harvest.
RELATED: This Town In Vietnam Is Where You Need To Head To Find A Virgin Paradise
-
South Korea
Although South Korea is half a world away, people in the country celebrate Thanksgiving (or Chuseok Day) in a manner very similar to the American festival. The holiday is usually observed between mid to late September, with the Koreans typically spending time with their family, giving thanks to their ancestors and celebrating the autumn harvest. Various traditional national customs take place through the day, including ancestor memorial services, Korean wrestling, and Korean circle dances. The day is ended sharing a hearty meal with the family.
-
Grenada
This Caribbean island has a rather interesting story behind how it came to celebrate the day. Political turmoil in Grenada in 1983 culminated in a military coup – with the execution of their Prime Minister that left a power vacuum and a neighbouring country exerting communist influence on them – and the Americans came to their rescue. The date was October 25, 1983. Though the move was met with widespread global criticism, many Grenadians were grateful. And having learned of the American tradition, they put together a Thanksgiving feast for the American troops across the country. Since then they observe October 25 as a national holiday.
10. Japan
View this post on Instagram
The Japanese have been observing Thanksgiving (or Kinrō Kansha no Hi) for more than 2,000 years now. They celebrate a national holiday on November 23 every year, offering their gratitude for the season’s first rice harvest. However, in modern times, it is more a celebration of hard work and community involvement. The holiday is oriented around thanking workers’ rights, especially the rights of workers in post World War II Japan.
