Thanksgiving in the U.S. and Around the World

Blogging, family, happiness, lessons learned, Teaching and Education, travel, United States 2 Minutes

We were blessed to share the day with family; thank you for inviting us.

Thank you to all of you who have wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, especially those of you outside the U.S. How kind of you to think of us.

In my attempt to become more globally aware of other countries that celebrate a similar holiday, I have put together the following guide. Many of these are holidays that celebrate the harvest season. If anyone is aware of other celebrations, please let me know.

  • Australian territory of Norfolk Island: last Wednesday of November
  • Barbados: Beginning in June, the celebration lasts anywhere from six weeks to three months.
  • Brazil: fourth Thursday of November
  • Canada: second Monday of October
  • China: 15th day of the eighth lunar cycle of the year
  • Germany: first Sunday of October
  • Ghana: centered around the harvest season
  • Grenada: October 25
  • Israel:  lasts for seven days and begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei; five days after Yom Kippur. There is also Shavu’ot, a celebration of wheat harvest in the spring (thanks to Tony and Margie at the wonderful blog Back Roads and Other Stories for this update)
  • Japan: November 23
  • Liberia: first Thursday of November
  • Malaysia: celebrated for the month of May; culminates in a two-day public holiday
  • Netherlands: first Wednesday in November
  • Philippines: last Thursday in November
  • Rwanda: first Friday of August
  • Saint Lucia: first Monday in October
  • South Africa: harvest festivals after the grape harvesting is done for wine production, from late January through March (thank you to fellow blogger Tandy who has the wonderful blog Lavender and Lime)
  • South Korea: 15th day of the eighth lunar cycle of the year
  • United Kingdom: traditionally held on or near the Sunday of the harvest moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. (one in six Britons also celebrate Thanksgiving on the same day as the U.S., referring to it as Brits-giving.) update from Clive at his great blog, Take It Easy: Harvest Festivals in the United Kingdom take place at different days after harvest usually in September or October; the Sunday is Harvest Thanksgiving day.
  • United States: fourth Thursday of November
  • Vietnam: 15th day of the eighth lunar cycle of the year

sources:

*image from Town & Country magazine

 

Published by Jim Borden

A 60-something guy trying to figure out the world, and his place in it. Happily married for 40-plus years, three wonderful sons. Accounting teacher, fitness enthusiast, blogger, reader.

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74 thoughts on “Thanksgiving in the U.S. and Around the World”

      1. You are welcome and we did. Though by nightime I started fading fast. Worked nightshift on Wednesday night. That would be the reason for no post last night. I am not as dedicated as you. LOL!
        You are 3 months probably would get a little long.

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  9. How interesting that many countries celebrate at a similar time of the year. I also like to be aware of traditions worldwide because it helps us become more culturally sensitive.

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  11. In the UK this is Harvest Festival for us. Very much a church thing, also marked in many schools, but without the big family gathering. We only get together and slaughter turkeys once a year!

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  14. I was in the UK in November 1987 visiting an American friend. We celebrated Thanksgiving with a room full of brits. It was all very new to them. I even needed to bring cranberry sauce because it wasn’t sold in London at the time. This was a month after black Monday and there was a lot of animosity towards Americans. Weird evening.

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  17. It is boggling to see so many celebrations, yet not surprising, as bringing in the harvest is certainly cause to celebrate. The African harvest celebration consists of 4 things to do: settle old quarrels, tell a story, sing and dance, eat. I often have this celebration at school. Settling old quarrels is the best (Gloria helps.)

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