The Thanksgiving holiday celebrated each November in the United States is known worldwide as an American custom, but its roots extend far back into human history. According to research conducted by The Center for World Thanksgiving at Thanks-Giving Square, the first Americans observed rituals and ceremonies to express gratitude to a higher power for life itself. A Seneca Indian ritual, for example, states, "Our Creator ... Shall continue to dwell above the sky, and this is where those on the earth will end their thanksgiving." Another quotation attributed to American Indians before Columbus is, "The plant has its nourishment from the earth and its limbs go up this way, in praise of its Maker ... like the limbs of a tree." In addition to thanksgiving traditions brought to North America by settlers from many parts of the world, some authorities link the American thanksgiving with the ancient Jewish observance of Sukkot in the fall, which expresses thanks to God for the bounty of the earth. Throughout history, countries in Asia-including Japan, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka-have hosted festivals in gratitude for each year's rice harvest. In Africa, many tribal expressions of gratitude are similar to this ancient prayer: "The year has come around again, great Lord of our land-never can we thank you for your good deeds and all your blessings." In South America, many of the native Indian cultures contain expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving, and in modern Brazil a special public day of thanksgiving and prayer has been designated for the fourth Thursday of November every year since 1949. In the British Isles and Europe, the harvest thanksgiving is observed in Protestant and Catholic churches with special altar decorations. In Belfast, Northern Ireland, land has been set aside to establish a Thanksgiving Square there. When plans for the square in Belfast were announced, then Secretary of State Dr. Mo Mowlam said, "Northern Ireland has known much pain and suffering. Now we are at the beginning of a new era of peace and prosperity. The creation of this place of thanksgiving is symbolic of a better tomorrow for us all." The idea of thanksgiving grew from the human common need to express appreciation through prayer, gift-giving and celebrations. Of all the human emotions, thanksgiving is one of the most basic. It generates a universal bond that surpasses many differences. The values and traditions of thanksgiving are found in every culture and religion. All the major world religions—including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam—have rituals, observances and liturgies that express thanks and gratitude to a higher power for the gift of life and its wonders. Eight nations have official Thanksgiving Days. The nations are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, Liberia, Switzerland and the United States. |
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