Harvest Festivals Around the World
Thanksgiving in the United States is one of the biggest celebrated holidays of the year. But there are harvest festivals around the world that people celebrate as well with just as much enthusiasm as Americans do. Countries all over the world have their own traditions and customs for that special time of year to celebrate and give thanks for all their many blessings. Let’s take a look at some Thanksgiving Day customs in the United States and around the world.
Thanksgiving Day Customs
· Prayer and Worship. For centuries, Thanksgiving Day has been associated with prayers of people around the world in churches and in homes. It is probably one of the biggest days where prayers are offered before eating the big feast at dinner time to give thanks to the Lord for a good harvest and for all the other blessings they have received. It is also a day to show gratitude for friends, family and all good deeds.
· Family Gatherings. Another popular custom in the United States as well as in many other countries is gathering with friends and family. Thanksgiving is one of the biggest holidays around the world for travel and get togethers. Thanksgiving dinner feasts have followed customs over the years as families come together to express gratitude for health and love.
· Parades. Although this may not be a custom found in many countries, the United States Macy’s Day Parade has been around for years, as well as other parades that adorn the streets of various states and cities. The first big parade was held in 1924 in Detroit. It began as a small scale event but grew in popularity with each year. It is now televised every year and receives national coverage.
Harvest Festivals around the World
Although the United States is famous for celebrating Thanksgiving and going all out with decorations, traditions, and customs, there are several other countries that have their own traditions and customs for a thanksgiving holiday. Here are a few different countries that celebrate a kind of thanksgiving:
· Festivals in Korea consist of a celebration taking place on the 15th day of the eight month on the lunar calendar. Memorial services are held throughout the country to honor those ancestors who have passed to the other side. Rice and fruit are offered in place of flowers on the tombs. Koreans, like Americans also have a special feast to show their thanks for each other. It begins with a large family gathering where “songphyun� is served; special rice cakes made of rice, beans, sesame seeds, and chestnuts. During the evening there is a ceremony called Kang Kang Sue Wol Lae in which women make a circle and sing and dance, dressed in their very best hanbok. There are also other activities like wrestling, archery, and folk music. Chu Suk is what this celebration is called and it is a time for Koreans to give thanks for their blessings.
· The Yam festival in Ghana is another celebration that takes place during thanksgiving. African people have always had celebrations during the time of the harvest. In Ghana the festival lasts three days much like the first Thanksgiving festival that took place. It begins with the cleansing ceremony to honor family members who have died while the farmers give thanks to God for a good harvest. Twins and triplets are also honored as a special gift from God. It is called the Yam festival because yams are an important crop in Ghana. They are taken from the ground and carried to the village where they are blessed by the chief. The festival food consists of special foods made from yams; mashed yams and hard boiled eggs are one of the most important parts of the dinner. The festival ends with a big dinner, singing, and dancing to the sounds of drums.
As you can see, there are harvest festivals around the world with different traditions and customs. The United States is just one of the many countries to celebrate and give thanks to God for all their blessings.