If you live in the United States, chances are you’ve heard the story of Thanksgiving. We’ve all enacted that first Thanksgiving scene in our elementary school plays, we remember dressing up as pilgrims and natives, and we’ve all made lists of what we’re thankful for. We generally believe that the first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 when the Pilgrim colonists and Native Americans in the region shared a feast following the harvest. Nowadays, the United States regards Thanksgiving as a holiday where families reunite to feast on turkey, mac ‘n cheese, mashed potatoes, casseroles, and a slew of other Turkey Day classics. Over time, the holiday has also been branded as an “American” celebration, but in reality, several other countries honor it as well.
Canada: Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October to show thankfulness for the harvest season; as a result of its timing and purpose, the Canadian holiday usually marks the end of the harvest season.
Australia: Australians learned about and began celebrating Thanksgiving from interactions with American whaling ships. In Australia, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Wednesday of November.
Grenada: Grenada’s Thanksgiving isn’t related to harvests; rather, it’s celebrated on October 25th, marking the day United States forces helped reestablish political stability in the region in 1983.
Liberia: In Liberia, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the first Thursday of November. Some use the day to reflect on the country’s civil war.
Germany: In Germany, Thanksgiving is not widely celebrated, but there’s a similar holiday—Erntedankfest—to show gratitude for the harvest. The timing of Erntedankfest varies depending on the region, but it’s typically celebrated in September or October.
Netherlands: Thanksgiving is not a public holiday in the Netherlands, but the Dutch Protestant church observes the holiday in honor of the Pilgrims, who lived in the city of Leiden before they made their voyage to the American continent.
In all of these countries, Thanksgiving is celebrated for different reasons and during different times. Yet, in every iteration, Thanksgiving is a time to remember the past and reflect on the present. As we prepare to celebrate our American version of this time-honored tradition, consider taking the day to appreciate the good in your life, be it success, friends, or family.
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