Giving Thanks Around the World, Unique Traditions From Around the Globe
It’s almost Thanksgiving for us in the United States, a time when we hold parades and celebrations, and spend time with our loved ones over huge meals. This time of year fills the air with a spirit of gratitude and thanks for what we have. Although Thanksgiving is an American holiday, across the globe, communities have established unique and vibrant traditions surrounding the concept of giving thanks, each reflecting their own values, history, and profound connection to the world around them.
In Ghana, there is a festival called the Homowo festival, which celebrates overcoming of famine and celebrates the Ga people’s cultural heritage. “The tradition of Homowo started with a period of hunger leading to famine due to failure of the seasonal rains needed by crops in the Greater Accra Region, where the Ga people predominantly dwell. When the rains returned to normal, the Ga people celebrated by creating the Homowo festival, hence its name and meaning,” says Visit Ghana. This vibrant celebration includes dancing, music, and communal feasting, similar to the American Thanksgiving feast! During this festival, the people of Ghana express gratitude for the bounty of the earth and pay respects to their ancestors who endured hardship to pave the way for future generations. Across the continent in Liberia Thanksgiving takes on a more formal tone, with church services and parades commemorating the nation's founding. Families gather to share a feast of roasted chicken and mashed cassava, giving thanks for their blessings and the country's hard-won independence.
Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Eea Ikeda on Unsplash.
Further east in Japan, there is the Japanese Labor Thanksgiving Day, a unique holiday that honors labor and production and falls on the 23rd of every November. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the value of hard work and the contributions of every individual to society. It's a time to express appreciation for workers across all sectors and reflect on the importance of community and collaboration in building a thriving nation. Meanwhile, in China, the enchanting Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the harvest moon with family reunions, mesmerizing lantern displays, and the sharing of mooncakes, symbolizing unity and completeness. This festival is a time to give thanks for the abundance of the harvest and the enduring strength of family bonds.
" Erntekrone", German harvest crown, image by Imaschke. Adobe images with license.
In Germany, there is Erntedankfest, a harvest celebration that includes church services, parades, music, and county fairs. “In larger cities, Erntedankfest is sponsored by Protestant and Catholic churches. A typical German church observance begins with a sermon and perhaps some choral singing. Then comes the thanksgiving procession, complete with the presenting of the traditional “harvest crown” (Erntekrone) for the harvest queen (Erntekönigin).” says German Way. This day is concluded with music, dancing, and lots of delicious food! In some areas, there are even lantern releases and torch parades.
Closer to home in the Caribbean, the island of Granada also has it’s own Thanksgiving held on October 25th of each year, “to remember how the U.S. military rescued them from a communist takeover and restored constitutional government.’ says the American Legion. On this holiday there are church services, social events, and of course, lots of food, with traditions inspired by the American Thanksgiving.
Whether expressed through elaborate ceremonies, shared meals, quiet moments of reflection, or acts of service, giving thanks is a universal human experience, a testament to our shared appreciation for life's blessings, both big and small. It's a time to acknowledge the abundance in our lives, the strength of our communities, and the beauty of the world around us. This shared value, woven through the diverse tapestry of human cultures, reminds us of our interconnectedness and the power of gratitude to uplift and unite.