Thanksgiving is essentially a harvest festival, and although it is considered a North American holiday, other similar harvest festivals are celebrated in different ways all over the world. Each country or region has their own unique traditions, foods, and time which they celebrate their harvest festival. Although the underlying principle behind each is same, the sharing and appreciation of food from the harvest, each one is special in its own way.

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year in the U. S. Originally, it was celebrated by the pilgrims during the autumn harvest to show their appreciation to the Native Americans for teaching them how to farm in the region. Today it is a time for family and friends to reunite over a traditional meal of turkey, yams, and pumpkin pie, and give thanks.

Dominant Languages Spoken in the United States
North American English, Spanish, Chinese,
& several other dominant minority languages

Chuseok is celebrated during the harvest season in Korea. Families visit their ancestral homes and  family grave sites. Newly harvested foods are typically given as offerings, such as stuffed crescent-shaped rice cakes. A traditional ceremony is observed on the night before the harvest festival, and families typically gather to share the harvest feast.

Dominant Languages Spoken in Korea
Korean

Lohri is the harvest festival of Punjab which is known as the breadbasket state of India. Farmers in Punjab celebrate Lohri during the rest period prior to the harvesting of the wheat. In the farming villages, people dance folk dances such as Bhangra and Giddha around a bonfire. The festival, as with other harvest festivals around the world, is marked by sharing and feasting among family and friends.

Dominant Languages Spoken in northern India
 Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu

Thanks so much for taking your time and reading our Thanksgiving Newsletter 2011. We wish you all wonderful Thanksgiving holidays with your family and friends.