How Thanksgiving is celebrated across the world
Imagine this: It’s the middle of November and you are in the USA. What do you notice? Everyone around is preparing turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and watching football, parades. What else? People decking up in new attires and sitting with their families and friends to enjoy a hearty feast. It doesn’t take you long to figure out what’s brewing, right? Yes, we are talking about Thanksgiving!
One of the most popular American celebrations known worldwide, Thanksgiving marks the start of the winter holiday season in the USA that continues till the New Year. It’s a holiday celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November and was originally observed to express gratitude to God for providing one and all with health, happiness, prosperity, food and drinks, shelter among others. It was first celebrated by the Pilgrims (Europeans travelling to the Americas in search of a New World!) in 1624 to commemorate their first successful harvest after settling in the American colonies. Later, in the 18th century, US President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed National Thanksgiving Day to be held on the fourth Thursday of every November. Since then, USA has continued the much-coveted tradition.
However, USA is not the only country that celebrates Thanksgiving, there are others too! Would you like to know about some of them? Read on to know about a few unique Thanksgiving traditions from across the globe.
Kinro Kansha no Hi in Japan
Celebrated every year on 23rd November, Thanksgiving in Japan is known as Kinro Kansha no Hi that literally translates to Labour Thanksgiving Day. It had originally begun as an ancient rice harvest festival called ‘Niinamesai’ but gradually transitioned into a religious holiday to celebrate the contributions of the farmers who help make a successful harvest. Unlike USA, Thanksgiving in Japan revolves lesser around food and more around being grateful for the hard work of the farmers. One of the most important traditions of Kinro Kansha no Hi is observed by school children who prepare hand-made cards and gifts and distribute them among labours as a sign of gratitude and appreciation.
Action de Grace in Canada
Canadian Thanksgiving or Action de Grace is celebrated annually on the second Monday of October. Back in 1578 when Canadian explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew returned safely from their Artic expedition, they held a feast to celebrate their return. Thereafter, French settlers arrived and continued the tradition of a feasting while showering thanks to fellow men and God. However, it wasn’t until the Loyalists arrived in Canada from the USA during the American Revolution that Thanksgiving became a part of Canadian tradition too. So, in a way, Thanksgiving arrived in Canada long before it did in the USA.
Fast forward to 1957 and Canada’s the then Governor General declared Action de Grace as a day of General Thanksgiving to the almighty thanking him for the bountiful harvest. One of the important Canadian Thanksgiving traditions is breaking the turkey wishbone. As it happens, once a turkey is fully eaten, the bone attached to its chest is removed. Then, two people each take one end of the dry and brittle bone, make their respective wishes, close their eyes and pull. Whoever ends up with the larger part of the bone is believed to get their wish. How great is that!
Leiden Thanksgiving in Netherlands
In 17th century England, religious separatists often felt threatened by King James and his rules and punishments. As a result, they fled to the Dutch town called Leiden where they could worship whichever way they pleased. Later, in order to honour their leader John Robinson, the separatists started commemorating Leiden Thanksgiving, that begun near Robinson’s burial site near a Gothic church in Pieterskerk and spread across the entire country. Till date, every year on the first Wednesday of November (the day of Robinson’s demise), Dutch people unite to celebrate their own kind of Thanksgiving with coffee and cookies and a day-long church service.