National holidays offer far more than just a day off. They’re a way for countries to celebrate the people, historical events, and cultural traditions that make them unique.
Of all 12 national holidays in the U.S., Thanksgiving—a time to be grateful for food, family, and friends—is quite possibly our most iconic.
If you’re an immigrant in America, it’s possible you’ve already had the experience of feasting on traditional turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes (or, at the very least, you’ve heard others rave constantly about it).
That said, there’s so much more to this holiday than just the meal!
In this article, we explore Thanksgiving history, look at similar celebrations held around the world, and offer tips on how you can celebrate Thanksgiving while honoring your own traditions.
Thanksgiving History
While the exact origins of American Thanksgiving are a bit unclear, we can trace its evolution through key events over the last four centuries.
Most people believe the inaugural Thanksgiving happened in 1621, when the English Pilgrims celebrated their first successful harvest with the Wampanoag people at Plymouth Colony.
Then, for the next hundred years or so, “days of thanksgiving” were held frequently across the country—often to celebrate military wins or bountiful harvests. In many cases, these days were less about food, and more about fasting and prayer.
In 1789, President George Washington stated that Thursday, November 26 would be a national day of thanks to celebrate the nation’s founding and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. People marked the day by attending church services and making food donations.
Still, Thanksgiving wouldn’t become a formal or permanent holiday for another 74 years.
In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving an official national holiday. He set it for the last Thursday in November as a time for the country to unite and give thanks.
Interestingly, in the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it to the third Thursday of November. However, change didn’t prove popular with Americans. By 1941, Congress moved it back to the fourth Thursday, where it remains today.
Over the last few decades, Thanksgiving has shifted from a religious tradition to a secular holiday, emphasizing family gatherings, food, and national unity.
At the same time, there’s also been a growing recognition of the holiday’s controversial ties to colonialism—encouraging a more thoughtful view of its history.
However, the core message of gratitude stays strong—and brings us together.
Gratitude and Celebrations Across the Globe
For immigrants in the U.S., Thanksgiving might feel more familiar than expected.
That’s because the act of expressing gratitude for community and nature’s abundance is shared by many cultures around the world.
Here are just a few other versions of harvest celebrations observed globally, with a focus on family, food, and gratitude.
Chuseok
Korea’s version of Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, spanning several days. Chuseok honors the harvest and ancestors with a memorial ceremony that features offerings like rice and fruits.
Families also gather to make and share songpyeon; rice cakes symbolizing unity.
The holiday involves travel, a focus on togetherness, and gift-giving of high-quality meats and fruits—all to reflect appreciation and strengthen social bonds.
Erntedank
Held in September or October every year, Erntedank is a festival celebrated mainly in rural areas of German-speaking countries to mark the harvest season.
It includes church services, lantern parades, fireworks, music, and fairs. A key tradition is the “harvest crown” presented to the harvest queen, symbolizing gratitude for the year’s crops.
Some people eat turkey during Erntedank, but traditional dishes like goose are more popular. That said, this holiday focuses less on family feasts than community, so leftover food is often donated.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, this is a major cultural event in East and Southeast Asia—especially in China, Vietnam, and Japan.
The festival honors the autumn harvest and full moon, with customs including moon gazing, family reunions, offerings, mythological tales, and lantern festivals.
Customs may vary somewhat by country. For example, in Vietnam, the festival embodies a children’s day celebration; while in China, the central tradition involves eating mooncakes.
Pongal
This four-day Hindu festival celebrated in South India marks the harvest season and the Sun’s transition to the northern hemisphere.
Held in mid-January, Pongal honors the Sun God while celebrating rice, sugarcane, and turmeric. The festival also promotes family unity and prosperity, while being rooted in agricultural and Hindu traditions.
During Pongal, you will see people cooking rice in milk and offering it to gods, cows, and family members. Pongal also includes various processions, visits and the exchange of greetings, and honoring and adorning cows.
Harvest Festival
This UK festival is all about showing gratitude for the bounty of the earth. Its origins date back to ancient Britain, where farmers gave thanks during the full moon closest to the autumn equinox.
The festival gained prominence during Victorian times with church services and prayers.
Today, it is marked by food donations—especially in schools and churches—to help the needy. Celebrated around the Harvest Moon, it also emphasizes community, gratitude, and the journey of food from farm to table.
Sukkot
Sukkot is a week-long Jewish festival that begins five days after Yom Kippur, to honor the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert.
The name Sukkot refers to temporary huts (sukkahs), symbolizing the shelters used during the journey as well as during harvest.
Central to the festival are the four species (palm, myrtle, willow, citron), prayers of gratitude, and meals held in the sukkah. Sukkot also encourages reflecting on life’s essentials, with a focus on simplicity, faith, and community.
Homowo Festival
Celebrated in September by the Ga people of Ghana, this festival marks their New Year and commemorates their victory over a devastating famine.
The name Homowo means “hooting at hunger,” symbolizing triumph after a period of suffering.
Homowo includes a “ban on noisemaking” for prayer and reflection, as well as rituals to ensure a successful harvest. Other central traditions include sprinkling Kpokpoi (a traditional dish) to honor the dead and feed animals, and resolving disputes to foster unity.
Canadian Thanksgiving
Celebrated on the second Monday in October, this feasting holiday is probably most like U.S. Thanksgiving, but there are some key differences.
First, Canadian Thanksgiving is held about six weeks earlier. Plus, its origins are rooted in events as early as the 1500s.
Canadian Thanksgiving is also more low-key than in the U.S. Family gatherings and outdoor activities tend to take priority over parades and sports. Moreover, there’s no major post-holiday shopping rush immediately afterwards.
How To Celebrate Thanksgiving as an Immigrant
Thanksgiving gives immigrants a chance to embrace American traditions while honoring their own cultural heritage.
Below, we provide tips for crafting a multicultural Thanksgiving that beautifully intertwines both your heritage and American practices.
Host a Thanksgiving Meal
Thanksgiving is all about sharing a hearty meal with those you love.
Whether you’re hosting a grand dinner with all the traditional trimmings or a more intimate gathering, here are some ideas to bring that festive spirit to your table:
- Try traditional dishes: Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to dive into classic American dishes like turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. If you’ve never tried them before, start by cooking one or two of these iconic foods to experience the flavors that define the holiday.
- Fuse cuisines: Combining the flavors of your homeland with classic Thanksgiving food is a creative and meaningful way to celebrate both your background and your new American experience. Plus, you just might end up with a unique dish that gets rave reviews (and requests) for more Thanksgivings to come!
- Share your meal with friends and neighbors: Thanksgiving is not just about family—it’s also about building community. Consider inviting American friends, neighbors, or fellow immigrants to your meal. Together, you can learn about each other’s customs and build stronger bonds of friendship and understanding.
As you share food, stories, and traditions with others, you’ll not only honor Thanksgiving, but also the beautiful diversity that makes this country so special.
Attend Local Events and Activities
While Thanksgiving is a time for coming together with family and friends, it also offers many opportunities to engage with the wider community:
- Check out a parade: Parades are a great way to kick off the holiday, whether it’s attending one live in your community or tuning in on TV. The most famous one is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, which features elaborate floats, marching bands, giant balloons, and even celebrity performances.
- Participate in a community potluck: Local community centers, churches, and civic halls often hold Thanksgiving gatherings where neighbors and friends can share homemade dishes. These potlucks celebrate diverse traditions and create a sense of community.
- Volunteer for a good cause: Many people choose to spend part of their Thanksgiving serving meals at homeless shelters, soup kitchens and food banks. By helping those in need, you can bring joy to others while also adding additional meaning to your holiday.
These traditions are all about celebrating the essence of Thanksgiving—gratitude and generosity—and ensuring all people can experience the true warmth and joy of the holiday.
Share Thanksgiving With Family Abroad
As Thanksgiving is centered around gathering with loved ones, it’s common for immigrants to feel homesick. However, there are meaningful ways you can include far-away family members in your holiday:
- Celebrate virtually: Use video calls to bring family together, share stories, and show off your festive decor. Whether it’s a quick call to say “Happy Thanksgiving” or a more in-depth conversation, these virtual moments can help keep connections strong.
- Exchange photos and recipes: Sharing meal photos and recipes helps introduce relatives to the tastes and customs that have become part of your American experience, making them feel part of your new traditions. Plus, you just might inspire them to recreate dishes in their own kitchens!
- Send gifts: Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on gratitude and the spirit of giving. One meaningful way to express this is by sending remittances to family members as a Thanksgiving gift. Secure, trustworthy, and low-fee (sometimes $0!) services like uLink make it easy to send money—ensuring that your generosity is felt, no matter where your family is located.
Including loved ones from home in your Thanksgiving traditions is a great way to alleviate homesickness, making you feel closer to both your roots as well as your new community.
Create New Traditions With Friends and Family
There truly is no one right way to celebrate Thanksgiving. Feel free to tailor the day to your unique traditions and backgrounds.
Here are a few ways to make it your own:
- Blend cultural traditions: Add a dish or custom—such as a signature recipe or a pre-dinner prayer—to make the holiday feel more inclusive and reflective of your cultural roots. Even the smallest addition can create a meaningful blend of old and new traditions.
- Start new family activities: Create traditions that can be repeated year after year. Consider a family walk or crafting handmade decorations. Another idea is to create a “gratitude jar,” where each family member writes down something they’re thankful for—and then read each note out during Thanksgiving dinner.
- Reflect together on your shared values: Thanksgiving is a time to talk about what you’re thankful for and celebrate togetherness. By encouraging open discussion on what matters most to you, you can create meaningful memories that bring your family and friends closer.
Ultimately, Thanksgiving is a celebration of love, gratitude, and togetherness. So embrace what feels right for you and your family—and let the day be a meaningful expression of who you are!
Send Love Back Home This Holiday Season
For immigrants living in the U.S., Thanksgiving represents a special time to feel connected to both your new community and the loved ones back in your home country.
After all, the core message of Thanksgiving—gratitude, togetherness, and love—can transcend borders, reaching anyone no matter where they’re from. And within the same country, multicultural Thanksgiving is a reflection of who we are as a society.At uLink, we help you bridge that gap so you can support the people you care about most. Learn how we make it easy to send money to more than 156,700 locations across 69 countries worldwide.
