Thanksgiving Around the World

Charly Dixon
Staff Writer 
  On the fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States. This holiday consists of families and friends gathering together for a large meal, football, and parades. Other places around the world also celebrate Thanksgiving just in their own way. Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Liberia are some of the places that also celebrate this holiday. 
  In Canada, citizens celebrate Thanksgiving just like the U.S.; Canadians feast with their loved ones and typically watch football at the end of the day. On the table, they have turkey, ham, or chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and pumpkin pie. Their pumpkin pie could be swapped with flaky butter tarts or a pastry filled with raisins, walnuts, or pecans. Thanksgiving is similar for each nation except Canadians refer to the holiday as Action de grâce, since French is one of the primary languages of the country.
  Unlike the United States, Japan participates in a quiet public holiday; Japanese do family trips to a green space, amusement parks, or dinner. Most businesses remain open, and kids still attend school. One of their biggest traditions is that the elementary kids make cards or prepared gifts and give to the workers in the labor sector including police officers, firefighters, and hospital staff to celebrate their dedication during the year. Most of the people have mainly consumed fish, rice, and tea for dinner on this holiday.  Even though Japan celebrates the same way as the United States, they still reverse this day as a national holiday.
  In the U.S. the Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by watching or going to the Macy’s parade in New York, which is well known for their giant inflatable balloons that float between the skyscrapers. People would also break the wishbone for good luck, they would have their traditional Thanksgiving dinner. An article by EF Academy said ”Must-eats are: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Green bean casserole has become a popular dish, especially in the Midwest. Completing the meal is, of course, pumpkin pie for dessert.” Some people love taking their holiday naps. People also share what they are thankful for, watch football, and run a turkey trot. A turkey trot is when people across the U.S. run a half marathon; this race brings out the runners, walkers, and fans in local communities. It is a fun way to earn and burn calories from Thanksgiving dinner, and of course, Black Friday is another favorite American tradition. 
   Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks around the world. This holiday is not just for the food; so many places around the world have their own tradition and there are many more coming. Whether countries celebrate to honor their founders or their harvest season, time with loved ones should always be cherished.