Every American schoolboy and schoolgirl is fully aware of pilgrim hats and Indian costumes when November comes. Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower are common knowledge as they happily take part in the annual pagentry. Looking for celebrations of this event in overseas countries is a different story. Thanksgiving Day is a North American celebration, however the sense of appreciation for a bountiful harvest is shared by all.
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One mention of "Thanksgiving Day" is noted in Swedish tradition, however it is a Sunday in the Swedish ecclesiastical year ( the second Sunday of October) , and if one does not go to church, it isn't noted at all! On this day, the Swedish church is decorated with produce of the harvested apples, potatoes, carrots and the like, while twigs and colored leaves decorate the altar. The collection might be sent to relief organzations to aid the needy.
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One mention of "Thanksgiving Day" is noted in Swedish tradition, however it is a Sunday in the Swedish ecclesiastical year ( the second Sunday of October) , and if one does not go to church, it isn't noted at all! On this day, the Swedish church is decorated with produce of the harvested apples, potatoes, carrots and the like, while twigs and colored leaves decorate the altar. The collection might be sent to relief organzations to aid the needy.
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Throughout history, mankind has celebrated the bountiful harvest with thankful ceremonies. Before the establishment of formal religions, many ancient farmers believed their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and then fade. They believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested.
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Canadians celebrate their days of Thanks each year on the second Monday of October (which is Columbus day in the US). The Canadian celebration is not based on a harvest, but for the survival of travellers who arrived after a long journey from England, having struggled through a voyage of storms and icebergs to the area they called New France. Martin Frobisher, an explorer, was tryingto find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean. These French settlers typically had feasts at the end of the harvest season.
This painting " The Order of Good Cheer", a 1606 print by Christopher Jeffreys depicts food carriers in Canada during their harvest festival.
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Harvest festivals have been a part of history. Ancient Greeks worshiped many gods and goddesses. The goddess of grain was Dementer and honored in a festival on October 4th. The Egyptians celebrated their harvest festival in honor of Min, their god of vegetation and fertility. This festival was held in the springtime, the Egyptian harvest season. They wept and pretended grief at their harvest as they tried to deceive the spirits that inhabited the crop. They feared the spirit would become angry when the corn was cut away and begged forgiveness for having to take the spirits home away.
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Here in America, our "Thanksgiving Day" centers around the autumn of 1621 as 53 surviving pilgrims celebrated the sucessful hunt, as they did in the Old Country, along with 90 Native American indians who had helped the small band of people survive the past year. Hunters were sent out to harvest five deer that provided the three day feast for the celebration. 
This print is entitled " The First Thanksgiving" by Edward Winslow".
This print is entitled " The First Thanksgiving" by Edward Winslow".------------------------------
The first recorded religious Day of Thanksgiving was held in 1623 to celebrate a providential rainfall. The tradition of our American Thanksgiving Day was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Our festival has become one day to give thanks and the day before "Black Friday" with happy days ahead! 'Tis the season!
Happy Thanksgiving!
This is really interesting. I have friends from England, didn’t realize their Thanksgiving is the same day as our Columbus Day. I thought Black Friday was just a “shopping” term. And happier days ahead??? Well, not for these Viking fans.
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