Thanksgiving and holidays based on giving gratitude are some of the most internationally recognized holidays in the world. Though they may be celebrated at different times and with different histories, these holidays are generally commemorated at the end of the harvesting season to celebrate and give thanks to all of the crops and agriculture that the earth supplied that year. In some countries, gratitude-based holidays remain religious and in others it has morphed into a secular holiday with the primary purpose of expressing gratitude. At various points in history, people around the world independently realised that the overwhelming importance of gratitude is deserving of a holiday regardless of religion. Understanding how such different histories and cultures ended up agreeing on the significance of this kind of holiday is an incredibly enlightening lesson.
Religion has played a huge role in the history of thanksgivings around the Western world. As many who celebrate North American Thanksgiving traditions have learned, the first Thanksgiving in America is commonly attributed to a feast shared with the first settlers, the Puritan Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower, and the Indigenous peoples of Wampanoag in 1621. While there were pre-existing, varied and rich traditions in many Indigenous cultures to celebrate gratitude for the fruits of each season (and connections had been previously established between the Wampanoag and English settlers), today’s holiday originates from a three-day feast with the Wampanoag people. While Thanksgiving is hugely popular today, for the many Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island the day may serve as a somber reminder of the ongoing injustices of colonization which stem from the same history as this holiday.
Apart from Puritanism, other religions around the world also commemorate gratitude through holidays that involve fasting and feasting to show their appreciation for the food at the table. In Islam, Ramadan is a month-long holiday involving fasting from dawn to dusk to encourage compassion for the less fortunate; ultimately building empathy through the experience of hunger and deprivation. The ending of Ramadan is Eid Al-Fitr, a huge feast much like Thanksgiving that usually involves praying, feasting, and new clothes for all of the younger family members along with money. In Judaism, Sukkot is a week-long festival centred around gratitude for the yearly harvest commemorated with traditional meals with friends and family, prayers, and community. In Hinduism, Pongal is a multi-day festival that marks the end of the winter, commemorated by a traditional feast with family and friends, and often features the dish of ‘pongal’—a sweet rice dish. These are just some of the many religious holidays celebrating the importance of gratitude in life.
Contrary to popular belief, the centre of the original Western Thanksgiving dish featured venison, lobster, and seafood more than turkey. Turkey only became popular later on because, as the holiday expanded the birds were native to the land and large enough to feed many people, making them a more practical choice. Thanksgiving was usually not marked by a turkey but more often attending Church, giving thanks to God, fasting and praying before the seafood feast. In more modern history, Thanksgiving in the West became more of a secular holiday for family gatherings, communal meals, and reflection, regardless of religious affiliation. Today, Thanksgiving is still seen more as a family gathering; Many Americans travel to visit family on Thanksgiving.. Around the world, Gratitude-based holidays are celebrated at different times throughout the year and go by different names but ultimately signify the importance of giving thanks. So rest assured that no matter where you go, gratitude follows.
