Sweet pumpkin pie, savory turkey, and tangy cranberry sauce on the dinner table. Although Americans can relate to this typical scene, many countries around the world celebrate different occasions with the same essence of our holiday: Gratitude.
Gratitude is given in many ways, whether to family members for their love and support, to employees for their hard work, or even as simple as thanking God for living a healthy life. Joseph Lee (10) shared his heartfelt Thanksgiving experience: “My family and I celebrate Thanksgiving with the people we care most about. Usually, we gather in front of a dining table with cousins and close friends. We give our gratitude to God, who provided our meal, and the evening ends with games, laughter, and a warm feeling of togetherness that makes Thanksgiving so special.”
Canada
Following the Spiritual route is Canada. Our northern neighbors also celebrate Thanksgiving; however, they differ in a couple of ways. First, “Canadian Thanksgiving was initially less about celebrating the harvest and more about thanking God for keeping early explorers safe as they ventured into the New World” (almanac.com). This is precisely why Canadians celebrate the holiday in early October instead of late November. Besides their differences in historical context, Thanksgiving is much more commercialized in the United States than in Canada. Black Friday deals are always the craze when the end of November is near (almanac.com). Altogether, Canada is the only country that similarly celebrates Thanksgiving to the United States.
Japan
Moving to the other side of the world is Japan. Their Thanksgiving is more geared towards workers. Thanksgiving in Japan is called “Kinro Kansha no Hi” which translates to Labor Thanksgiving Day. This holiday is not at all religious and is instead centered around honoring laborers’ hard work. As one of Japan’s traditions, young school children make cards or gifts for workers to thank them. Unlike the U.S., the holiday doesn’t include a big formal turkey dinner that can be seen in commercials. Instead, the Japanese simply eat fish, rice, and tea with their close family (jrailpass.com).
Germany
Last but not least is Germany. Their way of expressing gratitude comes in the form of their holiday, Erntedankfest. Like the U.S., Germany’s holiday has religious roots. The only difference is that Germany doesn’t celebrate Erntedankfest as a secular holiday. Instead, the church is widely involved. During this celebration, people may carry an Erntekrone (“harvest crown”) and many things like grains, fruits, and flowers to the church. As typical American Thanksgiving dinners go, Germans feast on chicken or roosters (History.com).
Race and culture do not limit the ability to express gratitude. As seen in the previously mentioned nations, Thanksgiving, thankfulness, and social gatherings are common in all cultures. What’s incredible is that we will always come across others who share our thoughts in various ways, no matter how far we go. It’s the art of giving.
