As November 27th, American Thanksgiving for 2014, draws closer families are solidifying their holiday plans. Turkeys are being hunted or bought, travel arrangements made, and seats reserved on the sofa for the big game. While the USA braces for a day of feasting, family, and demonstrations of how thankful we all are, countries around the world are doing the same. While the Thanksgiving we all know and love is thought of as American, we are not alone in our observance. Some celebrate under a like name of “Thanksgiving,” while others’ celebrations are more closely related to the American Thanksgiving’s origins of harvest time.
Canada
Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday of October every year. Canadians give thanks at the close of the harvest season. The holiday is marked with people visiting their families and friends, and gorging on lavish traditional Thanksgiving delicacies. The most luxurious ones include roasted turkey, pumpkin, corn ears, pecan nuts, and other seasonal produce. Most people take this holiday as an opportunity to indulge in sport activities, like hiking and fishing. Pretty similar, aye?
Rome
The Roman festival, known as Cerelia, is celebrated annually on October 4th to honor Ceres, the Goddess of Corn. As such, the offerings made to her include first fruits of the harvest and pigs. Other highlights of the celebration include a grand feast, accompanied by music, parades, games, and sports.
China
A festival similar to Thanksgiving Day in America is celebrated in China, known by the name "Chung Ch'ui". It is a three-day long harvest festival celebrated on the full moon day of the eighth Chinese month, since the Chinese believe the day to be the birthday of the moon. The lavish feast features roasted pigs and first fruits of the harvest.
Egypt
The Spring Harvest festival of Egypt is dedicated to Min, the deity of vegetation and fertility. Its highlights include a parade headed by the Pharaoh, followed by a gala feast, music, dance, and sports. The most interesting and unique feature of the festival is the mass grief, weeping, and howling by the farmers to trick the spirit of corn into assuming that they were grieved to cut the corn and thus, prevent it from taking revenge.
As you can see, America doesn’t have the market cornered on taking notice of the abundance that this life provides. Recognizing the people in our lives, the full lives we live, and the bounty of the earth is a human thing, not an American. Celebrate with your family this human holiday, wherever you are and to the fullest! HAPPY THANKSGIVING from Carod Properties.
