Thanksgiving has different meanings to different cultures across the world. America and Canada, although on different dates, celebrate the same customs by giving thanks to everything they may be thankful for.
Unlike Canada, France does not celebrate Thanksgiving at all. Parents and children do not get a day off from work or school, and most foods commonly found on an American’s Thanksgiving dinner table are very hard to find in French supermarkets.
Japan celebrates its own version of Thanksgiving known as Labor Thanksgiving Day. It takes place yearly on November 23rd and pays tribute to hard work and giving each other thanks.
Though Finland does not celebrate Thanksgiving day, their Independence Day is quite similar to it. Additionally, their Father’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in November, which can be seen as being fairly similar to Thanksgiving in America.
In China, the American holiday of Thanksgiving seems to be catching on. Chinese people use this day to give thanks to their parents, teachers, and friends.
In Australia, Thanksgiving is not an official holiday. Australians use Christmas and Boxing day to spend time with their families and appreciate what they have.
In Grenada, a small island in the Caribbean, they celebrate a national holiday known as Thanksgiving Day on October 25th. On this day they celebrate the anniversary of when the United States military saved the Grenadian people from a communist overtaking and reestablished the constitutional government they had prior.
In Liberia, they celebrate their version of Thanksgiving on the first Thursday of November. On this day they give thanks for when the United States released black slaves to live freely in a country derived from the Latin word Liber, meaning free. This country is now present day Liberia.
No matter the geographical location, all cultures have their own way of giving thanks.
