Thanksgiving Traditions
By Genevieve Ciuro-Mareth ('26)
Thanksgiving, a classic American holiday. But have you ever considered how, or even if, other countries celebrate Thanksgiving? Well, many countries celebrate Thanksgiving in addition to the U.S., such as Canada, Liberia, Brazil, and many more! As such, different traditions are celebrated across the world. Who wouldn’t like filling meals on a day to celebrate thanks? A few examples of some popular traditions in the U.S. include but are not limited to:
Roasting a turkey
Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Watching a football game
Having a Friendsgiving (a casual Thanksgiving dinner with friends)
Breaking the wishbone of a turkey for good luck (and whoever gets the biggest piece gets to make a wish)
Photo courtesy of Delish
These traditions are common among Americans, but what other traditions are there on Thanksgiving? Various places around the world celebrate giving thanks, usually on different days and in different ways. Some of the places are:
A Kaamatan Festival
Photo courtesy of New Straits Times
Malaysia - The Kaamatan Festival, celebrated in May, which worships rice.
Korea - Chuseok Harvest Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, which calls for respect for elders and ancestral roots.
Ghana - Festival of the Yams, which is celebrated in August or September, centered around the new yam harvest.
Germany - Erntedankfest, which falls on the first Sunday in October, focuses on giving thanks for the year’s harvest and grains.
China - Harvest Moon Festival, which occurs over a three-day celebration in the middle of the autumn season where the practice of gathering around a table, talking, and eating occurs.
Harvest Moon Festival
Photo courtesy of Travel + Leisure
As you can see, several festivals and celebrations occur in different countries, even if they aren’t related to what we Americans think of as the typical Thanksgiving holiday.
Cover photo courtesy of YMCA
Banner photo courtesy of Oprah Daily