Do You Know Who Celebrates Thanksgiving?

 After my last post I found myself wondering about this holiday and what countries actually celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It appears the traditional Thanksgiving, as we know it, is only celebrated in the United States and Canada.

In the United States it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November with turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Plus potatoes and veges of course, and a large serving of all day football.

Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October with turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mincemeat or pumpkin pie. We usually serve mashed potatoes and broccoli and maybe one game of Canadian football.

Australia celebrates The National Day of Thanksgiving on May 30. As it is in the southern hemisphere the seasons are reversed so harvest celebrations would be April or May. The National Day of Thanksgiving is for Australians to give thanks for their God given heritage as a nation and demonstrate the God given values of honor, respect, thankfulness and gratitude to their fellowman. The National Day of Thanksgiving is a unique opportunity for Australians to celebrate and give thanks for our God given heritage as a nation and to demonstrate the God given values of honour, respect, thankfulness and gratitude towards our fellow man that have made us the great nation we are.

South America, New Zealand, Scotland, France and London and most other countries, as I understand it, do not celebrate Thanksgiving. Britain does not have an official holiday but American expats and tourists often come together and celebrate with a traditional Thanksgiving feast.

So there you go. Tomorrow is a special American holiday. Celebrate, but take time to appreciate and say thank you for all the good things in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving!