While most people would immediately link Thanksgiving to the US, there are really many different “giving thanks” traditions celebrated all over the world. Most occur in the fall as a means to give thanks to God or to just rejoice over a good harvest. Continue reading to learn about lesser-known Thanksgiving traditions from around the world.
Harvest Festival – United Kingdom
Although there is no set date for the UK’s Harvest Festival each year, it is an October celebration of thanksgiving for a fruitful harvest. In actuality, the Anglo-Saxon term “haerfest,” which implies autumn, is where the word “harvest” originates. In the past, customs included singing traditional harvest songs as farmers celebrated harvesting their crops and attending a special church service at the start of the season. Today, festivities can include a Harvest Supper in churches or small towns, or nationwide giving campaigns sponsored by schools. Since the UK now imports a large portion of its food, charitable giving and gratitude for the country’s relative riches are frequently in the spotlight.
Moon Festival – China
China’s Moon Festival, which is observed in the middle of the autumnal season, is a long-standing tradition that originated during the Shang Dynasty as a festival honoring Chang’e, the moon goddess. The event still occurs on the evening of the brightest full moon between September and October, but its focus these days is mainly on giving thanks for the harvest and spending time with family. Mooncakes, a packed flaky pastry, lanterns, and incense burning are examples of customs. Since the moon is traditionally regarded as a sign of fertility, unmarried people frequently look for love during this festival, or men will propose to their partners.
Liberia
Since Liberia was founded by recently liberated African-American slaves roughly 200 years ago, the event known as “Thanksgiving” there shares many characteristics with the more well-known American version. The event, which is observed on the first Thursday in November, honors liberty and opportunity. Liberians typically attend a church ceremony on Thanksgiving Day and bring along fruits that are later auctioned off. Then they go back home to eat a family lunch that has some minor variations from the American-style meal but otherwise follows the same fundamental formula: chicken in place of the turkey and cassava in place of the potato.
