As the last Thursday of November approaches, at Urso Hotel & Spa we are preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving in a unique way, bringing together the American essence with the cultural diversity that characterises our city.

Although Thanksgiving is widely known in the United States, gratitude is a universal emotion that transcends all geographical frontiers. In every corner of the world, diverse cultures have developed unique ways of expressing gratitude for life’s blessings.

Discover how different cultures celebrate their own Thanksgiving traditions and explore the unique and enriching expressions of gratitude.

In Germany, Thanksgiving is called “Erntedankfest”. Although it may not be as widely celebrated as in North America, rural communities gather to give thanks for the harvests and abundance. In this religion-led tradition, as well as enjoying a celebratory meal, people gather baskets of fruit, vegetables and grains, which are blessed in church and handed out to the less fortunate.

While Japan does not have a holiday equivalent to Thanksgiving, it does celebrate a festival in November called “Kinr? Kansha no Hi” or “Labour Gratitude Day”. On this day, citizens express their gratitude to their co-workers, showing appreciation for their efforts over the year.

In India, different regions celebrate Thanksgiving festivals at different times of the year. For example, ‘Pongal’ in southern India is a harvest festival where people show gratitude to Mother Nature for her blessings. The celebration lasts four days and is filled with ceremonial events, and there are even cows parading through the city.

Korea celebrates Hangawi or Chuseok, an ancient celebration that pays homage to one’s ancestors for a successful harvest. During the three-day festival, families gather and enjoy the fruits of their harvest, traditional dishes and a deep sense of gratitude.

These are just some ways in which different cultures around the world express their gratitude through their own traditions. Despite the cultural differences and dates of celebration, all of these festivities share a common message of appreciation for what we have and the importance of giving thanks. After all, gratitude is a universal emotion that unites humanity, for which we invite you to share your own moments of gratitude as a family while celebrating Thanksgiving at Urso Hotel & Spa.