We typically think of Thanksgiving as being strictly an American holiday. However, it is actually a tradition celebrated in many places. Here is a look at Thanksgiving around the world.
The United Kingdom: Harvest Festival
This
festival, held in October, celebrates the harvest for the year. The festival is
similar to a fair, with a produce competition, food tastings and crafts for
sale. It is customary for children to donate fruits and vegetables to the
elderly in the community.
Germany: Erntedankfest 
Germany’s version of Thanksgiving
occurs around the end of September or the beginning of October. It is a more
religious holiday, and starts with a sermon. Families typically eat chicken
rather than turkey, and donate their uneaten food to the needy.
Ghana:
Homowo 
This
festival, also called the Yam Festival, gives thanks for a bountiful harvest.
It also wards off famine and honors the deceased in the community. The day ends
with a huge feast of different yam dishes and a celebration with dancing,
drums, and face painting.
Barbados:
Crop Over
Barbados
has an annual festival very similar to Carnivale, where participants dance,
drink, and compete to climb a greased pole. It commemorates the country’s
reliance on sugarcane, and crowns are given to the man and woman who are able
to produce the most.
Malaysia: "Kadazan Harvest”
Celebration 
This holiday is devoted to rice, and
honors the god of Semangat for a good harvest. There are many carnivals,
agricultural shows, and games. Citizens usually make rice wine, and dress up in
traditional costumes.
Vietnam: Tết Trung Thu Festival 
This is also known as the Children’s Festival, and is when the Vietnamese
people celebrate their families. They believe that children are symbols of
purity and are connected to the spiritual world. They show their appreciation
for their children, and light lanterns. This is one of the most important
holidays in Vietnam.
Israel:
Sukkot 
Sukkot
is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt.
It is a week long, and the first day is devoted to rest, as working is
forbidden. It is a very religious holiday, and is celebrated through prayers
and feasts.
As you can see, Thanksgiving is celebrated in many different ways. One thing that remains the same in any language? How truly lucky we are, and how grateful we should be for all that we are blessed with.
