History of Thanksgiving Around the World

Thanksgiving is a cherished tradition in the United States, but there is more to this holiday than just turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. For thousands of years many cultures have celebrated similar ceremonies and traditions--long before we Americans.

In ancient times, farmers believed that spirits lived within crops and that when fruits and vegetables were harvested, the spirits would become angry and seek revenge upon their families. In order to avoid the misfortune these spirits could bestow, the farmers held celebrations in order to completely destroy the spirits. Ancient farmers were not the only folks to celebrate occasions by feasting.

In ancient China, the 15th day of the eighth month was considered the birthday of the moon. To honor this special occasion, the families held a festival called Chung Chiui trimmed with a meal of moon cakes, roasted pig, and fruit.

Each October the Romans danced to music and watched as parades awed the eyes of onlookers during a celebration they called Cerelia. During the tradition pig and fruit were offered as gifts to the gods, while the people feasted together in thankfulness to their goddess.

For over 3,000 years Jewish families have celebrated Sukkot, and eight day celebration in honor of the Sukkot shelters built by Israelites while they were in search of the Holy Land.

Egyptians celebrated fruitful harvest by honoring the God of Vegetation and fertility. This celebration was held each spring and included feasting, music and dancing.

But it is here in the U.S we owe the honor of Thanksgiving to the Pilgrims. Also called colonists, the Pilgrims began a treacherous 66-day journey to the "New World" aboard a ship called the Mayflower. Originally hoping to enter the water of the Hudson River, the ship lost its course and instead landed on a rock in Cape Cod, MA. When they landed there they were greeted by a tribe of Wampanoag Indians.

Upon meeting, the Pilgrims and Indians soon found friendship after the Indians announced "Welcome Englishmen." The two groups shared knowledge and signed a Treaty of Friendship" in the summer of 1621.

Even with the help of their Native American friends, the following winter was tough for the Pilgrims due to a lack of food and shelter. Many of the Pilgrims lived aboard the Mayflower and only half of the colony survived the winter.

After crops became plentiful the Pilgrim Governor, William Bradford, declared a day of feasting and invited the Indians. During the feast, the Pilgrims served turkey, geese and duck. Indians brought deer, lobster, oysters and fish. The feast also included cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, turnips, radishes and wild fruit. The tradition was not celebrated annually in America until over 300 years later.

Although U.S President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November as the "Anchoring of the Mayflower at Cape Cod," it was not until 1939 when U.S President Franklin Roosevelt officially declared the fourth Tuesday of November Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving, like many American holidays, are rooted in the celebrations of other cultures.

Happy turkey day!