Most of us know the story of the first American Thanksgiving.  The first settlers of the American colonies celebrated with a massive feast to celebrate their thriving settlement and abundance of food.  That first giving of thanks with a bountiful meal gave way to the yearly tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving with our families, with the hallmark of dishes like turkey and pumpkin pie.

However, America is not the only country to have a holiday dedicated to giving thanks for the things we’re blessed with.  Many places around the world have holidays celebrating the great things they have, especially food and the people in their lives.

With similar festivities to the Americans, the Canadians also have their own Thanksgiving.  The origins of this celebration date back to almost 50 years before the Pilgrims feasted in Plymouth, making the Canada the first country to officially celebrate the holiday.  Their celebration falls on the second Monday of the month of October and shares the same trademark food as the American Thanksgiving, roasted Turkey.

In China, there is a great festival known as the Mid-Autumn Festival . This takes place typically in the month of August.   The people of China believed that the moon is brightest and roundest on this day. It’s a day that is focused on speaking your love and appreciation for those around you, and welcoming life’s blessings.  To give thanks for the people they love, they gift each other dessert called moon cakes.

On the same day as the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival,  there is a celebration in Korea known as “Chuseok” or “Fall Evening.”  The celebration is a three-day major harvest festival. Koreans make a special dish called songpyeon, a rice cake food.  The celebration is meant to honor not only the harvest, but their ancestors and people that have passed before them.  It’s a celebration meant once again, to give thanks for the people in our lives.

In Roman times, there was a festival known as Cerelia.  It was a harvest festival meant to thank their goddess of corn and harvest, Ceres,  for the bountiful crops of the fall.  This took place on October 4, and festivities involved music, parades, and sports games, as well as feasting on that year’s harvest.

These are only a few of the fantastic holidays celebrated around the world dedicated to giving thanks.  Though they may be on different days, from different cultures, and celebrated different ways, all of these holidays are united in their principle, the loving thanksgiving for the blessings of food and friendship we’ve received.

From all of us at VOX, have a blessed Thanksgiving!