Thanksgiving Around the World
By Noah Safir, a Sophomore at iPrep Academy
By Noah Safir, a Sophomore at iPrep Academy
Thanksgiving has been an ongoing tradition in the United States and in Canada for more than two centuries. Thanksgiving is the day of thanks and was created to celebrate the harvest and other blessings of the past year. According to the Britannica article “Thanksgiving Day,” Americans perceive this holiday as the day that a harvest feast was shared amongst the English colonists and the natives part of the Wampanoag after a safe expedition led by Martin Frobisher.
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday of every November and is usually celebrated with a feast of Turkey, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce. It is also celebrated with parades throughout the states and American football games.
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday of every November and is usually celebrated with a feast of Turkey, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce. It is also celebrated with parades throughout the states and American football games.
©iStock.com/skynesher
However, America isn’t the only place that has a “Day-of-Thanks.” Many cultures around the world celebrate their own version of Thanksgiving. Some of those cultures include Germany, Japan, Ghana, and Goa.
Germany’s Take On “Thanksgiving”
Erntedank is a holiday celebrated by most German Catholics. Found in a teaching and learning website, KidsKonnect.com, explains that Erntedank is celebrated on the first of October, originally started by the Catholic Church in 1972. The holiday is a means of thanking God for the harvest and opportunity to rest after a season of hard work. It shares many similarities with the American Thanksgiving, but one major difference is that Erntedank is a religious holiday.
Erntedank is a holiday celebrated by most German Catholics. Found in a teaching and learning website, KidsKonnect.com, explains that Erntedank is celebrated on the first of October, originally started by the Catholic Church in 1972. The holiday is a means of thanking God for the harvest and opportunity to rest after a season of hard work. It shares many similarities with the American Thanksgiving, but one major difference is that Erntedank is a religious holiday.
Erntedank arrangement in Germany as taken by ChrisArt
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Every holiday has its traditions, and KidsKonnect describes that for Erntedank: the German people fill baskets with crops from the harvest which are later given to the less fortunate. Unlike in America where turkey, pie, and mashed potatoes are the traditional food, in Erntedank they eat the harvested crops and bread as well as a German dish called “rouladen.”
Erntedank is celebrated differently in rural areas and in urban areas. For example, KidsKonnect talks about how in rural areas they hold a festival with neighborhood feasts as well as town parades. They also say that along with the festivals and feasts a wheelbarrow race is held which is called “Schürreskarrenrennen.” The Schürreskarrenrennen is held when the parade ends and approximately 40,000 people come to see it happen every year. |
In urban areas, things are a little different. KidsKonnect shows us that the Church basically organizes and finances the whole festival. In a large city like Berlin, they celebrate the Erntedankfest for an entire 24 hours and they begin the celebration early in the morning at Church. The whole day is very festive and religious and during the night the kids perform something called the Lantern Parade, which is very beautiful and fun for everyone. For the adults, a beer festival is held at night.
Japan’s Day of Thanks
Thanksgiving in Japan is quite different from the rest of the world. They call it Kinro Kansha no Hi (roughly translated to Labor Thanksgiving Day), and it is celebrated on the 23 of November by everyone in Japan. Web-Japan.org run by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes the holiday as an ancient ritual turned modern. The holiday goes back thousands of years and dates back all the way to the years 660-585 B.C. and back then it was called Niinamesai.
Thanksgiving in Japan is quite different from the rest of the world. They call it Kinro Kansha no Hi (roughly translated to Labor Thanksgiving Day), and it is celebrated on the 23 of November by everyone in Japan. Web-Japan.org run by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes the holiday as an ancient ritual turned modern. The holiday goes back thousands of years and dates back all the way to the years 660-585 B.C. and back then it was called Niinamesai.
However, Jrailpass, a travel business that sells rail tickets for Japan Rail and gives excellent information about Japan, explains that the ritual was “used to celebrate the autumn harvest of rice, wheat, barely, and beans.” This ancient holiday is celebrated completely differently than what we are familiar with in America.
Jrailpass has a whole page on the holiday and says that in Japan the holiday isn’t celebrated with enormous parades like in New York or anything big/extravagant; instead, it is a pretty lowkey day. Japan doesn’t contain many traditions for Kinro Kansha no Hi, but one of the biggest ones is for kids to make cards and little gifts for the workers like police officers, firefighters, doctors and other hospital staff to celebrate their dedication to the people and for their jobs. |
Children giving a gift to a local police officer for Kinro Kansha no Hi from Getty Images
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Food is important in Japanese tradition but for Kinro Kansha no Hi, it isn’t a big thing (unlike the United States). Jrailpass says that the Japanese eat a common traditional meal of rice, fish, and tea with close family members. Other than a family meal, Japan's religious side offers their harvested rice to their God.
The Ghana Thanksgiving
Ghana has its own thanksgiving and they call it Homowo; it is celebrated by the Ga people. According to Bruno Braga, in the article “The Homowo Festival: Ghana's Version Of Thanksgiving” an online site that has branding for Black Culture, informs us that Homowo is not celebrated on an official day like Japan, Germany, and America. It is a harvest festival on a Saturday (the day varies from year to year) sometime from May to August with the planting of crops right before the traditional rainy season in that part of Africa.
The history behind this holiday is quite interesting. Braga explains that the Ga were travelers looking for land in the 16th century and on their journey they faced many hardships until they arrived in Ghana. They celebrated their arrival in Ghana with an enormous feast that commenced a long-lasting tradition.
Ghana has its own thanksgiving and they call it Homowo; it is celebrated by the Ga people. According to Bruno Braga, in the article “The Homowo Festival: Ghana's Version Of Thanksgiving” an online site that has branding for Black Culture, informs us that Homowo is not celebrated on an official day like Japan, Germany, and America. It is a harvest festival on a Saturday (the day varies from year to year) sometime from May to August with the planting of crops right before the traditional rainy season in that part of Africa.
The history behind this holiday is quite interesting. Braga explains that the Ga were travelers looking for land in the 16th century and on their journey they faced many hardships until they arrived in Ghana. They celebrated their arrival in Ghana with an enormous feast that commenced a long-lasting tradition.
A photo of the Ga celebrating their harvest festival by Benson Ibeabuchi
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Braga describes that the festival first begins with the planting of the first crop which is blessed by the traditional priest. He then goes on to say that “Among these rituals is a 30-day ban on drumming, and a few days of rest leading up to the feast where no land is worked or fishing is allowed. In rituals like these, the Ga prepare to concentrate on their crops and calm the sea gods.” They ban drumming because in their beliefs the noise affects the crops and it can scare away their ancestor’s spirits. On the day the festival is held thousands of Ga pilgrims come to celebrate this joyous occasion. During the night the people stay in their homes because it is the night that their ancestors roam the streets.
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Just like our Thanksgiving, the Homowo is a festival of food. Braga says that some of the most popular dishes for the festival are palm nut fish soup and a corn powder dish as well as ‘kpekpei’ or ‘kpokpoi’ which is made from steamed and fermented corn meal and palm oil. The day of the feast comes with parades and dances in the streets of Ghana which can last several days.
A Day of Thanks in Goa
In the state of Goa, India, a day of thanks is also celebrated called “Ladin” or “Ladainha” which is celebrated to thank the almighty gods for their work. According to a website called “Thanksgivingday.org,” the Goa “Thanksgiving” is celebrated on the 15th of August every year, and it is celebrated by Christians in the state of Goa.
In the state of Goa, India, a day of thanks is also celebrated called “Ladin” or “Ladainha” which is celebrated to thank the almighty gods for their work. According to a website called “Thanksgivingday.org,” the Goa “Thanksgiving” is celebrated on the 15th of August every year, and it is celebrated by Christians in the state of Goa.
Thanksgivingday.org details the day begins with farmers “cut[ing] the first harvest of milk-filed corn from the rice field and offer[ing] it…for all the material and spiritual benefits,” in order to thank God. Then, they buy wheat and gram candles, wine, and colored tinsel paper to build a temporary platform which is decorated with festive flowers and colors. Singing is also a big part of the festivities, as they sing prayers and sing Hymns. Towards the end of the day Thanksgiving.org says that the local violinist conducts a show for everyone which contains beautiful melodies.
Like every country that has their day of thanks, Goa also celebrates by using food. Some of the traditionals meals/plates that are served during Ladin are “Goan-style prawns cooked in an earthen pot, pork vindaloo, pomfret and coconut fish curry served with lemon rice,” as described in timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Not all these dishes are served during this day but these are some of the popular ones. This whole day is a wonderful ensemble of festivities, mostly religious but nevertheless beautiful. |
Christian Indians praying during Ladin in the island of Divar © Tomas A Rodrigues
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Final Thoughts
Most people think that “Thanksgiving” is an American tradition, but other countries or cultures in the world have similar “days of thanks.” All these cultures have their own ways to celebrate which include enormous parades and celebrating with food. They all do have something in common, which is the idea of “thanks.” Everyone is thankful for something and these holidays are an amazing way to show and dictate your thanks for the things and people in your life.
Most people think that “Thanksgiving” is an American tradition, but other countries or cultures in the world have similar “days of thanks.” All these cultures have their own ways to celebrate which include enormous parades and celebrating with food. They all do have something in common, which is the idea of “thanks.” Everyone is thankful for something and these holidays are an amazing way to show and dictate your thanks for the things and people in your life.
Work Cited
Braga, Brunno. “The Homowo Festival: Ghana's Version Of Thanksgiving.” Travel Noire, 30 November 2021, https://travelnoire.com/homowo-festival-ghanas-version-of-thanksgiving .
“Erntedankfest Facts, Worksheets, Traditions, Celebrations & Date For Kids.” KidsKonnect, 2 November 2018, https://kidskonnect.com/holidays-seasons/erntedankfest/#Download_the_Erntedankfest_Facts_Worksheets .
“Erntedank: Thanksgiving in Germany.” The German Way, https://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/holidays-and-celebrations/thanksgiving-in-germany/.
“in India - Thanksgiving-day.org.” Thanksgiving Day, http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/celebration-india.html. Accessed 28 November 2022.
“Labor Thanksgiving Day - Calendar 11 - Explore Japan - Kids Web Japan.” Web Japan, 23 November 2021, https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/november/labor.html. .
Silverman, David J. “Thanksgiving Day | Meaning, History, & Facts.” Britannica, 20 November 2022, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thanksgiving-Day.
“Thanksgiving Foods: From Goan spices to Kerala flavours ; The Thanksgiving platter gets a desi twist |.” Times of India, 26 November 2020, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/from-goan-spices-to-kerala-flavours-the-thanksgiving-platter-gets-a-desi-twist/articleshow/79424504.cms..
Wilson, Emma. “Thanksgiving in Japan: Labour Thanksgiving Day | JRailPass.” Japan Rail Pass, 15 June 2022, https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/thanksgiving-japan
Braga, Brunno. “The Homowo Festival: Ghana's Version Of Thanksgiving.” Travel Noire, 30 November 2021, https://travelnoire.com/homowo-festival-ghanas-version-of-thanksgiving .
“Erntedankfest Facts, Worksheets, Traditions, Celebrations & Date For Kids.” KidsKonnect, 2 November 2018, https://kidskonnect.com/holidays-seasons/erntedankfest/#Download_the_Erntedankfest_Facts_Worksheets .
“Erntedank: Thanksgiving in Germany.” The German Way, https://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/holidays-and-celebrations/thanksgiving-in-germany/.
“in India - Thanksgiving-day.org.” Thanksgiving Day, http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/celebration-india.html. Accessed 28 November 2022.
“Labor Thanksgiving Day - Calendar 11 - Explore Japan - Kids Web Japan.” Web Japan, 23 November 2021, https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/november/labor.html. .
Silverman, David J. “Thanksgiving Day | Meaning, History, & Facts.” Britannica, 20 November 2022, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thanksgiving-Day.
“Thanksgiving Foods: From Goan spices to Kerala flavours ; The Thanksgiving platter gets a desi twist |.” Times of India, 26 November 2020, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/from-goan-spices-to-kerala-flavours-the-thanksgiving-platter-gets-a-desi-twist/articleshow/79424504.cms..
Wilson, Emma. “Thanksgiving in Japan: Labour Thanksgiving Day | JRailPass.” Japan Rail Pass, 15 June 2022, https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/thanksgiving-japan