How the World Gives

Thanks

Through Food: Exploring Global Traditions

Quick Summary

Communities across the world traditionally observe rites of thanksgiving in their own way, often accompanied by food. This practice shows that gratitude knows no geographical boundaries. While the word “Thanksgiving” is often associated with American customs, the spirit of the holiday is universal, encouraging people across the globe to celebrate and create memorable meals. Here’s how each country says thanks through food.

Deep Dive   

With the changing of the seasons comes a time of thanksgiving for plenty of crops in every culture. Thanksgiving is more than just a day off work; it's a time to reflect on the blessings of life, bring people together in gratitude, and celebrate the inherent harmony between humans and the natural world. It's true that Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada receives more attention than in any other country, but giving thanks through food is truly a worldwide phenomenon, with each nation presenting a special symbolic dish to show its gratitude.

Learn about the symbolic foods and traditions that bring people together worldwide to celebrate a good harvest, from Germany's Erntedankfest to the Indian Pongal and Onam.

India: Pongal, Onam & Makar Sankranti

Each area of India celebrates harvest in its own unique way. Pongal in Tamil Nadu is a celebration and a sweet rice dish made in Tamil Nadu using milk, jaggery, and slow cooking. In this traditional practice, families prepare food outside, then share it with their neighbours after offering it to the sun god.

During the Hindu festival of Onam in Kerala, guests feast on a banana leaf spread with as many as 26 vegetarian meals featuring Sambar, Moru, Rasam and more. 

Up north, Makar Sankranti is marked by tilgul (sweets made with sesame and jaggery sweets) and community feasts, all symbolising gratitude for the harvest.

United States & Canada: Thanksgiving

The well-known American and Canadian Thanksgiving celebrations, which take place on the fourth Thursday of November and the second Monday of October, respectively, have their origins in the practice of early settlers and Indigenous peoples sharing a harvest feast.

A roasted turkey, a big local animal representing abundance, is the focal point of the meal. Classic sides like stuffing (called dressing in the US), pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and other dishes are served with this. Poultry, squash, maize, and cranberries are the classic harvest foods of North America, and these meals are based on them.  

Germany: Erntedankfest

Germany usually celebrates Erntedankfest, also known as the "Harvest Thanks Festival", in late September or early October. Local gatherings, religious ceremonies, and agricultural exhibits take the stage in this festival. Despite being less commercialised than the American Thanksgiving, it nonetheless has parades, displays of cornucopias and big feasts.

In keeping with long-standing culinary traditions, the main event is a feast highlighting the bounty of the autumn harvest. Roast meats, seasonal vegetables, and Kartoffelklöße (potato dumplings) with gravy are staples of traditional dinners. Dishes made with freshly picked vegetables and special breads called Erntedankbrot also serve as the table's centrepieces.

Korea: Chuseok & Songpyeon

The Chuseok holiday, which is celebrated in Korea, is a time for remembering one's ancestors and indulging in gastronomic delights. The show-stopping delicacy is the half-moon rice cake called songpyeon. They are filled with sesame, chestnut or red bean paste and simmered in aromatic pine needles. Mooncakes are more than just a dessert; they are a symbol of community and appreciation shared with loved ones under the light of a full moon.

Ghana: Homowo & Yam Feasts

An energetic harvest festival, Homowo means "to hoot at hunger" in Ghana. Yam is the main dish, whether it's mashed, boiled, or ground into fufu, and it's served with a hearty palm nut soup. The feast honours the people's perseverance in the face of adversity with communal eating, dancing and drumming.

The Heart of Gratitude

The greatest way to show appreciation, no matter where you are, is over a meal. Traditional dishes like pumpkin pie, aviyal, and songpyeon serve as reminders that eating brings people together and symbolises the interconnectedness of all things, including the planet. In light of this, why not take a hint from the foods of the globe and include a little bit of international flavour in your Thanksgiving celebration?