We’re all taught the kid-friendly history textbook version of Thanksgiving growing up, making it seem like one of those uniquely American traditions. As we grow up, many of us come to realize that our close neighbors, Canada, also celebrate a version of Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. Similar to ours, it began as a celebration to give thanks for a successful voyage to North America. Here’s the kicker, they actually started celebrating their version of Thanksgiving in 1578, that’s 40 years before the first American Thanksgiving!
Whether you learned about the Canadian Thanksgiving years ago or just now, the news that another country celebrates Thanksgiving may come as a surprise (or at least be a little interesting, right?). It’s certainly got us wondering if there are other similar versions celebrated around the world.
Here’s what we found out about how different countries celebrate Thanksgiving.
Ertedankfest in Germany
Erntenankfest, meaning harvest thank festival, is a tradition in Germany and other European countries that began even before Christianity. Our Thanksgiving cornucopia actually originated from a European pagan tradition where farmers filled curved goat horns with grain, fruit, and vegetables as thanks to the former season’s labor!
Ertedankfest is celebrated on the first Sunday of October and is a celebration brought to the streets and town squares in the form of a festival with music, parades, dancing, and food. The protein of choice tends to be chicken or goose.
The Netherlands
Thanksgiving in the Netherlands is very tied to the American holiday because it celebrates the Dutch who helped settle the American colonies. Fun fact, 40% of adults on the Mayflower were from the Netherlands. It’s even celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November like ours, but it involves a non-denominational church service followed by coffee and cookies.
Liberia
Some Liberian freed slaves returned to their country in 1820 and brought Thanksgiving with them. The holiday was officially declared in the 1880s and is celebrated mostly by Christians in Liberia. For the holiday, they auction off fruit-filled cornucopias and enjoy a feast with their families.
China
China enjoys a 3-day festival on the 15th day of the 8th month. The Moon Festival is during the Harvest Moon or the full moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox. The festival in China includes lighting lanterns and dragon races, along with the mooncake (spongey pastry filled with sesame seeds, ground lotus seeds, and a salted duck egg yolk in the center). Vietnam and South Korea also celebrate a harvest festival on the same day.
Thanksgiving is Worldwide
In addition to the countries described, several others celebrate their version of Thanksgiving. Much like these countries, the holiday for some is directly related to the American holiday, while for others it’s more of a harvest festival. All in all, Thanksgiving is another example of how connected, yet unique we all are. Think about that while you’re chomping down on your turkey this year.