WEE Gather Together in Thanksgiving for November 26,2015

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2. Thanksgiving — in 8 other countries

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/thanksgiving-in-8-other-countries-2015-11-25

Thanksgiving in the U.S. is associated with a 1621 celebration at Plymouth, Mass., when a feast and day of thanks giving was prompted by a good harvest. Americans tend to think of Pilgrims, pumpkin pie and plenty of turkey. But the tradition exists in many religions, and similar holidays are celebrated in several other countries. Here’s how eight other countries celebrate Thanksgiving ...

China

China’s mid-Autumn festival takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when the moon is at its brightest and roundest. The moon-worshipping festival, celebrated by the eating of mooncakes, which contain an egg yolk to symbolize the moon, has been celebrated in China for more than 2,500 years. The ancient Chinese observed that the movement of the moon had a close relationship with changes of the seasons and agricultural production. Hence, to express their thanks to the moon and celebrate the harvest, they offered a sacrifice to the moon on autumn days. Above, people view the full moon from an ancient bridge at Taoranting Park during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing on Sept 19, 2013.

Germany

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Erntedankfest, the thanksgiving celebration of Germany, occurs around harvest time, September or October, and is marked by church services, a parade, music and a fair. It is also celebrated in parts of Austria and Switzerland. Above, a traditional harvest festival altar (Erntedankaltar) at a Catholic church in Germany.

Korea

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On morning of the day of Chuseok, family members gather at their homes to hold memorial services (called Charye) in honor of their ancestors. It’s a celebration of the harvest and thanksgiving for the bounty of the earth. It is the nation’s biggest traditional holiday, celebrated in September. Above, a former North Korean resident who fled to South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War bows toward her hometown in the north during a memorial service for her ancestors outside the off-limits border perimeter.

Japan

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Labor Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Japan on Nov. 23. It is considered a time to commemorate labor and production and to give one another thanks. Above, people stroll under ginkgo trees at Tokyo's Showa Kinen Park on the national holiday.

Canada

Canadian Thanksgiving — or l’Action de grâce— was first celebrated in 1578. The spirit of the holiday is to give thanks and celebrate the harvest. It takes place on the second Monday in October.


Liberia

Liberia, which was colonized by former slaves, celebrates Thanksgiving on the first Thursday of November. It follows similar traditions to those of Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.

Netherlands

As Smithsonian magazine notes, many Pilgrims lived and worked in the Netherlands city of Leiden, above, before their voyage to the new world. The connection is still strong enough that every year, on the day of American Thanksgiving, people gather in a 900-year-old church known as Pieterskerk to celebrate the perseverance and good fortunes of the early American settlers.


Ghana

Ghana’s Homowo (“hooting at hunger”) Festival is celebrated by the Ga people of the Accra region of Ghana. The festival commemorates the period in history when there was a serious famine in the land. It usually takes place in August.