Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude, family gatherings, and feasting—but it’s not just an American tradition. Around the world, the idea of giving thanks for a bountiful harvest and life’s blessings is something cultures around the world have embraced for centuries. Let’s embark on a journey around the world to discover how Thanksgiving-like holidays reflect unique customs, flavors, and histories, offering a captivating look at how different cultures express their thanks — each with its own distinct twist.
1. Canada
2. Germany
3. Netherlands
Did you know the Dutch connection to Thanksgiving goes back to the Pilgrims’ time in Leiden? About 40% of the Mayflower passengers spent over a decade living in this Dutch city before heading to the New World. Some even believe the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving was inspired by Leiden’s annual celebration of breaking the Spanish siege in 1574.
While Thanksgiving isn’t an official holiday in the Netherlands, many restaurants offer special meals, and Leiden locals continue to celebrate their unique connection to the American tradition. The city of Leiden also honors its historic ties by holding non-denominational church services at Pieterskerk every fourth Thursday of November!
4. Japan
In Japan, Thanksgiving takes a unique twist with Kinro Kansha no Hi, or Labor Thanksgiving Day, celebrated annually on November 23rd. While it falls close to American Thanksgiving, its origins trace back over 2,000 years to Niiname-sai, an ancient harvest festival dedicated to the first rice crop of the season.
After World War II, the holiday evolved into a celebration of labor, focusing on honoring workers’ rights and contributions. Today, the holiday is marked with thank-you notes and crafts from schoolchildren for community workers, and while there’s no grand feast, people enjoy a day off to reflect on hard work, gratitude, and community spirit.
5. United Kingdom
In the UK, the harvest festival, also known as the Harvest Home, is the country’s version of thanksgiving. It’s celebrated on the Sunday closest to the Harvest Moon – usually in late September or early October. The tradition dates back centuries, with origins in pagan rituals, where communities would gather to celebrate the successful bringing in of crops. In the past, the timing of the festival varied depending on when the harvest was complete, with the whole community, including children, helping until the last load of crops arrived.
Nowadays, the celebration often includes church services, autumn feasts, and food donations, keeping alive the spirit of gratitude for the season’s bounty. This tradition is thought to have influenced the origins of Thanksgiving in both the US and Canada, brought over by British immigrants.
6. Liberia
This West African republic celebrate Thanksgiving on the first Thursday of November, blending American traditions with local customs rooted in the country’s unique history. Founded by freed American slaves in the 1820s, Liberia adopted Thanksgiving in the 1880s as a way to express gratitude for the year’s blessings.
While the holiday shares its timing with American Thanksgiving, the celebration is distinctly Liberian, with church services followed by auctions of fruit baskets filled with papayas and mangoes. Instead of turkey, Liberian Thanksgiving tables feature spicy roast chicken, mashed cassava, and traditional dishes like jollof rice. It’s a lively occasion marked by food, music, dancing, and a deep sense of community.
7. South Korea
Chuseok, often called Korean Thanksgiving, is a major three-day holiday focused on family, food, and honoring ancestors. Celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, typically in mid-September or early October, it traces back to ancient harvest festivals. Families gather to prepare songpyeon (rice cakes filled with sweet or savory ingredients and steamed on pine needles), a time-honored tradition that fills homes with the fragrant smell of autumn.
Koreans also visit their ancestral hometowns to perform charye, a memorial ceremony offering newly harvested foods like rice and fruit to honor their ancestors. Gift-giving is a modern tradition, with Koreans exchanging fresh fruit, beef, and even Spam gift sets! Expect busy roads and packed stores in the days leading up to this important holiday, as families prepare for Chuseok’s blend of tradition and celebration.
