Every culture has its traditions for celebrating the season of giving, but the sentiment is always the same: Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the blessings of our lives and the people we care about. It is a holiday centered around gratitude and selflessness, and there are many unique ways cultures spread the message of this holiday. In the United States, the holiday is celebrated with a grand, formal dinner. The holiday was created in the 1600s to celebrate the Pilgrim’s first successful corn harvest. Americans typically consume a turkey dinner with loads of side dishes such as stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, and gravy. 

Similarly, in Canada, Thanksgiving is also celebrated with a turkey dinner. The first Thanksgiving in Canada was celebrated 40 years before Americans. It was a celebration enacted by the English explorer Martin Frobisher to commemorate their successful journey to North America. 

In South India, a successful harvest festival takes place for four days. Pongal celebrates the harvest of popular Indian crops such as rice, sugarcane, and turmeric. The festival also has religious significance, the first day is associated with Hindu Gods Indra and Krishna. Lord Indra and Krishna got into a dispute over Indra’s arrogance toward the people of Govardhan. They ultimately reconciled, Indra realized his mistakes, and Krishna arranged for celebrations in honor of Indra. 

In East Asia, Koreans celebrate their Thanksgiving called Chuesok. According to history, the event began when an old monarch named Silla organized a month-long weaving contest and gave the victorious team presents, food, and beverages from the losing team. Families get together and welcome the harvest season on the first day of the full harvest moon, which is Chuseok. In other civilizations, certain dishes, including rice cakes, are consumed during the celebration.

For thousands of years, people have celebrated Erntedankfest in Germany.  It began as a harvest celebration in the countryside. Even though harvesting is no longer common, people still celebrate the event and express gratitude.

Harvest is a common theme amongst these few Thanksgiving traditions listed above. Togetherness is something stressed cross-culturally, and the idea is that we should be thankful for the blessings in our lives. The various ethnically diverse ways to express gratitude during this holiday truly reflect the richness of our shared experiences. It's heartwarming to see how different cultures come together to celebrate appreciation, reminding us of the beauty in our differences and the connections we share. 

https://www.latmultilingual.com/blog/10-ways-thanksgiving-is-celebrated-across-cultures/