Thanksgiving A Multicultural Adventure
Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday commonly associated with turkey, gravy, and cranberry sauce. It is celebrated annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November and provides people with an opportunity to express gratitude for all the blessings in their lives. However, what many people may not realize is that Thanksgiving is also a multicultural adventure, filled with numerous different customs and traditions celebrated by various cultures around the world.
Thanksgiving's roots stretch back to the early 1600s when British pilgrims arrived in the New World and met the indigenous people known as the Wampanoag. The British pilgrims were seeking a new life and religious freedom, and the Wampanoag helped them adapt to the harsh conditions of their new home. In November 1621, the two groups shared a massive feast to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for their good fortunes.
But beyond this traditional story, Thanksgiving has become known as a multicultural celebration by incorporating a range of customs and traditions from cultures around the world.
The Cherokee Indians celebrate the Great New Moon Ceremony, which acknowledges the significance of the new moon, as well as the corn that is central to their way of life. During the ceremony, the Cherokees gather to mark the change of seasons and to give thanks to the Earth, Sun, and Moon for providing them with a bountiful harvest.
Similarly, the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, often known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is celebrated in late September or early October, coinciding with the traditional Thanksgiving season. Sukkot is a seven-day celebration to give thanks for the bounty of the harvest, as well as to remember the forty years Jews spent wandering in the wilderness. The celebration includes food, music and dance, and the building of temporary huts known as sukkahs to remind people of their ancestors' temporary dwellings.
In Korea, there is an ancient harvest festival called Chuseok. Chuseok is celebrated every August or September, depending on the lunar calendar, and is a time to honor ancestors, share gratitude for the harvest, and eat traditional foods like rice cakes and songpyeon, a type of rice cake often filled with a sweet bean paste. People pay their respects to loved ones by visiting their gravesites and offering gifts before sharing a feast with family and friends, highlighting the central role of family in Korean society.
Similarly, Brazil celebrates Dia de Acao de Gracas, which means Day of Thanks, every fourth Thursday of November, much like the United States. It is a time to thank nature for its bounty, usually in the form of a feast of turkey, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie, and is often marked by gatherings of family and friends.
The Chinese celebrate their harvest festival, known as the Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival, every August or September on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. The celebration includes mooncakes, a round pastry filled with lotus seed and sweet bean paste, symbolizing completeness and togetherness. It also marks the reunion of families under the bright full moon and is celebrated with lanterns and parades.
In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October, which traditionally has been linked to the end of the harvest season. People in Canada celebrate their bountiful harvests by attending parades, visiting family and friends, and, of course, eating turkey dinners with mashed potatoes and gravy. The Indigenous Peoples of Canada view Thanksgiving as a time to give thanks to the Creator for all the blessings they have received.
The Mexican celebration of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated from October 31 to November 2. It is a time to remember and honor loved ones who have passed, with altars that include items significant to the deceased, such as food, photos, and candles. The celebration emphasizes joy and happiness instead of grief and sadness, with festivities that include dancing, music, and elaborate costumes.
Thanksgiving in Hawaii also has its unique traditions, marking the official end of the Makahiki season, a period of four months dedicated to honoring the god Lono. During the celebration, the people of Hawaii perform traditional cultural dances, enjoy a luau, or Hawaiian feast, and exchange gifts while contemplating the importance of the harvest season.
The fact that Thanksgiving is a multicultural adventure highlights the importance of taking the time to appreciate and learn about different customs and traditions celebrated around the world. It is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate our differences while acknowledging our similarities. Regardless of our backgrounds, the value of giving thanks for our blessings is universal.
In conclusion, Thanksgiving is a vibrant and multicultural holiday that has evolved and grown in many different ways. Its diverse customs and traditions provide an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate their blessings. Whether it's a Native American powwow or a Chinese lantern festival, Thanksgiving offers us a chance to learn about and appreciate the countless ways we celebrate around the world. So this Thanksgiving, let's embrace the inclusive spirit of the holiday and celebrate the richness and diversity of our world.