Thanksgiving is an American tradition, but there are plenty of countries that celebrate thankfulness with loved ones and food. In Canada, whose first Thanksgiving celebration predates America by more than 40 years, the holiday is celebrated in October. People use the festival to celebrate the end of the harvest season. The Caribbean countries Grenada and St. Lucia also celebrate Thanksgiving in October. In Africa, Thanksgiving began in the 1800s to celebrate the colonization of freed African Americans.
The Netherlands and Germany have a similar Thanksgiving celebration to the United States. Japan’s version of the holiday is known as “Labor Thanksgiving Day,” while the Harvest Festival of Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United Kingdom.
While the day is filled with Turkey, yams, stuffing and dressing, collard greens, sweet potato pie, and casseroles in some households in the U.S., traditional meals look different in other places. If you want to change or add some international flavor to your family dinner, here are some Thanksgiving meals from around the world.
Canada
Celebrated annually in October, a Canadian Thanksgiving is similar to its neighbor in the U.S., but some people say the difference is the heavy stuff. Think of Canada’s celebration as a “diet” American feast. Every home differs, but you probably won’t see yams with marshmallows on top. There are more roasted vegetables, cabbage rolls, and pierogis. Yorkshire pudding is also a popular dish on Thanksgiving.
Grenada
True to the country’s nickname, “The Isle of Spice,” expect to taste a little kick thanks to its native spices. Grenada is the world’s number one producer of the mace spice and the second largest producer of nutmeg. It also harvests cinnamon, clove, turmeric, ginger, bay leaves, and cocoa.
A traditional Thanksgiving meal is filled with spices, of course, and coconut milk in native dishes that include roasted pork, mashed cassava root, oxtails, sweet potato pudding, and nutmeg ice cream.
Puerto Rico
The U.S. territory is similar to the mainland United States, but instead of mashed potatoes, you will likely see arroz con gandules or rice and pigeon peas at the table. Instead of cranberry sauce, there are tostones or fried plantains and ham versus turkey. Like people on the mainland, Thanksgiving is the official start of the Christmas season.
U.S. Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) celebrate Thanksgiving on the same day as people on the mainland, and the meals are similar. What the USVI does right – besides enjoying the sun and beach, is there are Caribbean options on the table, including rum-glazed ham, fish, and lobster bisque.
There is a second Thanksgiving that takes place on October 25. The day is called “Hurricane Thanksgiving,” which gives thanks for protection from hurricanes.
Liberia
Liberians celebrate Thanksgiving on the first Thursday of November. While it’s similar to America’s, the menu includes roasted chicken, mashed cassava, and, surprisingly, a green bean casserole.
Japan
Japan’s “Kinro Kansha no Hi,” which translates to Labor Thanksgiving Day, is celebrated on November 23, no matter the day of the week. The only exception is if November 23 falls on a Sunday, then the holiday will be observed on the following Monday.
The public national holiday honors the hard work of laborers that aligns with Labor Day in the U.S. Labor Thanksgiving Day isn’t a day filled with parades or parties. People take the day off as a vacation or a long weekend while eating a traditional meal of fish, rice, and tea with loved ones.
The Netherlands
“Leiden” is what Thanksgiving is called in The Netherlands. It’s celebrated every third Thursday in November. In addition to turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a side of vegetables, there’s a dish called Dutch Stamppot on the dinner table. Dutch Stamppot is comfort food made with kale and mashed potatoes before it’s topped with smoky sausages.