3 days ago
13
November 13, 2024 | 04:34 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thanksgiving, an annual holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada, is particularly rich in tradition symbolized by turkey, pumpkin pie, bread stuffing, and cranberries. Often associated with counting the blessings of the year, Thanksgiving celebrations in other parts of the world have evolved beyond their religious origins.
Thanksgiving traditions might vary across continents, primarily due to each country’s long-standing cultural heritage. To better understand the occasion, this article unveils a few countries that celebrate Thanksgiving, along with their histories, as gathered from various sources.
1. United States
Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving is one of the most favored holidays in the United States, bringing families together to share a hearty meal together. The celebration not only unites people in America, but it also serves others in the community, as manifested through food donations across the country.
While people book trips back home, colleges accommodate a special meal for students who stay on campus, allowing international students to experience the bountiful festivities.
2. Canada
Before it was established as an official statutory holiday in all of Canada's provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, Thanksgiving went through several evolutions in terms of celebration dates and causes.
Though the first began in 1777 at the request of Protestant clergy, modern Canadian celebrations of the holiday are more subdued and often limited to small-scale family gatherings.
3. Brazil
Thanksgiving was first brought to Brazil by Joaquim Nabuco, a Brazilian ambassador to the United States, and later established as a national holiday by President Gaspar Dutra in 1949. Although not as widely celebrated as other festivals, this celebration generally centers around food, family, and expressions of gratitude.
Brazilians spend their Thanksgiving holidays surrounded by loved ones, gathering for warm meals that include turkey, mashed potatoes, and other stuffings. However, cranberry is not a common Thanksgiving menu item in Brazil.
4. Australia
A growing number of Australians have embraced the American Thanksgiving tradition, celebrating the holiday with a feast on the last Wednesday in November. The holiday, along with other traditions, was brought by American whaling ships to Norfolk Island, which is recorded as part of the Australian territory.
Over the years, Thanksgiving celebrations in Australian houses have not left American menus, such as turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, freshly-baked dinner rolls, salad, pumpkin, apple pie, and other feast treats.
5. The Netherlands
The Pilgrims, the community that first coined the harvest celebration, spent time in the city of Leiden in the Netherlands. The Thanksgiving custom was further perpetuated by these immigrants and has since been followed by many of Leiden's current residents.
Even so, the annual Thanksgiving celebration at the Pieterskerk, a 900-year-old church, doesn’t put its sole focus on food, but rather on the perseverance and good fortunes of the early American settlers.
Historically, all of the countries that celebrate Thanksgiving mentioned on the list above have been heavily influenced by the American Thanksgiving, indicating its importance in its origin country.
Editor's Choice: Top 10 Best Countries to Live in 2024, United States Ranks Third
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
CIA Director Meets Prabowo at Wisma Indonesia in Washington DC
6 jam lalu
Indonesian President Prabowo welcomed the the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director during his visit to the United States on Tuesday.
Prabowo Meets Joe Biden at the White House, Strengthening Indonesia-U.S. Relationship
8 jam lalu
During the meeting with Joe Biden, Prabowo expressed gratitude for being welcomed at the White House.
Prabowo Congratulates Donald Trump on Phone Call; Conveys Wish for Personal Meeting
1 hari lalu
President Prabowo Subianto made a phone call to the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump.
State Leaders of Major Economies to Skip COP29 Climate Summit
2 hari lalu
Leaders from major economies including the United States, the European Union, and Brazil will skip the COP29 Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Reasons Why Arab Muslims in the U.S. Choose Donald Trump over Kamala Harris and Leave the Democrats
2 hari lalu
Donald Trump Captures the Hearts of Arab Muslim Voters in the U.S. Compared to Kamala Harris. Why?
U.S. Charges Iranian Man in Plot to Kill Donald Trump, Justice Dept Says
4 hari lalu
The U.S. has charged an Iranian man in connection with an alleged plot ordered by Iran's elite to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump.
8 Most Expensive Cities in Canada
4 hari lalu
Despite having a top-ranking GDP in recent years, these most expensive cities in Canada still hinder citizens from having a better quality of life.
200 Canada's Trade Delegates to visit Indonesia in December
5 hari lalu
A trade mission from Canada consisting of 200 delegates will visit Indonesia next month. This month, the two countries are holding the 10th round of ICA-CEPA negotiations.
Top 7 Most Influential U.S. Presidents in History
6 hari lalu
As the world's largest economy, the United States attracts global attention. Let's discover the most influential U.S. presidents in history.
Donald Trump's Victory May Have Negative Impact on Indonesia, Says Expert
6 hari lalu
An expert opined that Donald Trump's "America First" policy could exacerbate international trade protectionism which would adversely affect Indonesia.
