While we *love* all things dentistry, we also appreciate that sometimes there are more important things in life than keeping you and your family’s teeth and mouths healthy. (Although don’t get us wrong: that is very important, too!) So, we’re going to take a one-post break from helpful dental information and focus Thanksgiving and how this important time of year is celebrated in different countries and regions around the world.
Thanksgiving Celebrations from Around the World
No matter where “Thanksgiving” is celebrated, it is generally a celebration rooted in ancient traditions showing gratitude for a plentiful harvest of crop and game from the land.
Here are some ways how Thanksgiving is celebrated across the world:
- Thanksgiving in the United States – It’s hard to not have an idea of how our neighbours to the south celebrate Thanksgiving. US Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November with many people also taking the following day off to make it an extra long weekend. US Thanksgiving is arguably the biggest holiday of the year for Americans, bigger than Christmas. Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by watching professional football and with big turkey dinners, with many travelling across the country to celebrate with family.
- Erntedankfest in Germany – Celebrated on the first Sunday of October, Erntedankfest loosely translates to “harvest festival” and is a celebration of gratitude for a plentiful and bountiful harvest. The “harvest festival” theme is a commonly celebrated across many European countries, and while the traditional turkey dinner that North Americans are familiar with can be part of the celebration, foods that are more representative of local crops and game are, too.
- Kinro Kansha no Hi in Japan – Like in Europe, the Japanese celebrate a “harvest festival” occasion, but one that includes the physical labour performed through the year to create the fall-time harvest. Kinro Kansha no Hi is a modern term for an ancient celebration called Niinamesai, in which ancient Emperors made the season’s first offering of freshly harvested rice to the gods and then partook of the rice themselves.
- Grenada’s Celebration of Freedom – Grenada has a rather unique “Thanksgiving” celebration compared to other countries. Their celebration is held on October 25th each year, a date that marks the anniversary of American armed forces restoring democracy in 1983 following the death of communist leader Maurice Bishop. After hearing about the US Thanksgiving celebration from American soldiers, local Grenadians surprised US soldiers with feasts and celebrations similar to those celebrated in America, thus beginning the Grenadian Thanksgiving tradition.
- US Thanksgiving a World Away in Norfolk Island – Norfolk Island, located off the coast of Australia, celebrates Thanksgiving much the same way as they do in the US. And not by accident: Norfolk Island used to be a British penal colony regularly visited by US whalers and traders. In the late 1800’s, a US trader named Isaac Robinson visited the island and held a US-style Thanksgiving celebration. After his death, the locals continued the tradition that he started. While based on the US Thanksgiving tradition, the Norfolk Island tradition often features pork, chicken, bananas and other local crops and game.
At this time of year, it’s important to pause for a moment and appreciate all of the great things in our lives. We’re thankful for each and every one of our patients, staff and partners, we’re grateful for our good health, for the safe homes we have and the good food we’re blessed with. Thank you all for being part of that amazing world and we wish you all a very safe and very happy Thanksgiving!
And we couldn’t resist a little dentist plug: call either our Milton dental office at (905) 636 – 9770 or our Scarborough dental office at (416) 291 – 0306 and let us help you get a great smile that you’ll be very thankful for!
