United States: Thanksgiving
- When: Fourth Thursday of November
- Why: Give thanks for harvest, blessings
- Food: Turkey, potatoes, stuffing
- Activities: Visit family, football games, parades
Korea: Chuseok
- When: 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar
- Why: Celebration of a good harvest
- Food: Songpyeon (rice cakes steamed on pine needles), japchae, bulgogi
- Activities: Visit tombs of ancestors
China:
Zhong Qiu Jie (Harvest Moon)
- When: 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar
- Why: The full moon is a sign of good harvest
- Food: Lobster, salmon, fruit, nuts, “moon cakes”
- Activities: Family reunions, children stay up late, stay outside and moon-gaze
Japan: Tsukimi (Moon Viewing)
Israel: Succoth
- When: Late September to late October
- Why: Give thanks for crops and harvest
- Food: Traditional food (chicken, soup, potatoes)
- Activities: Families build sukkot (open living space) for meals and sleep during the seven days
India: Pongal
- When: January 14th
- Why: Celebrate a successful harvest
- Food: Sweet rice dish known as “pongal”
- Activities: Family gatherings
I love this! I used to love reading about holidays around the world when I was a little girl