People have all sort of traditions for Thanksgiving, including people all around the world! It’s not all just turkey and football, here’s how some people celebrate it all around the world.

In Japan they celebrate Kinrō Kansha no Hi as a national public holiday that occurs every November 23. It comes from an Harvest festival that was called Niinamesai. But now it has a modern meaning is more tied to a celebration of hard work and community involvement, hence its translation: Labor Thanksgiving Day. Kinrō Kansha no Hi was created officially in 1948. Originally, it was to celebrate the rights of workers in post-World War II Japan. Today it is celebrated with labor organization-led festivities, and children creating crafts and gifts for local police officers

In Germany that have a religious holiday that usually takes place on the first Sunday of October. It is called Erntedankfest and is essentially a harvest festival that gives thanks for a good year and good fortune. For the more rural areas, the harvest aspect might be taken more literally but churches in cities also hold festivities. There might be a procession where one wears the traditional Erntekrone, a harvest crown made of grain, flowers, and fruit. Although turkeys are making somewhat populars. However they do favor fattened chickens, hens castrated roosters, and geese are favored for the feast.

In Canada, the french speaking citizens call their thanksgiving l'Action de grâce. It was first celebrated in 1578 after an explorer named Martin Frobisher gave thanks for his ships safe travels. Canada’s Parliament did make it a national holiday in 1879, but they moved it from October to November 6th. They said that, A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed—to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October." Feasting on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn are common the weekend before. Vacations and parades are also traditional. “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed—to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October." They do eat similar foods to America’s thanksgiving, however they do it more on the weekend before, but vacations and parades are more traditional.

Today in Grenada their are mainly formal ceremonies of remembrance. Their original Thanksgiving had no origins with the State’s but it also wouldn't exist without us. Their thanksgiving makes the anniversary of the US invasion after the death of communist leader Maurice Bishop back in 1983 on October 25th. It’s thanks to American soldiers with were stationed there in the following month, who told the locals about the upcoming traditional holiday and how it’s focus is usually intended to show gratitude and thankfulness. The Locals -to show their own thankfulness to the soldiers, surprised them with meals that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise - complete with turkeys!

source: http://mentalfloss.com/article/60261/how-7-other-n...