Questions and answers

Does Germany celebrate Thanksgiving?

Does Germany celebrate Thanksgiving?

Meaning of “Erntedank” in Germany At the same date as in Canada, the Germans celebrate their Thanksgiving (Erntedankfest). During the celebration, which is usually held in a church but also regionally as a procession, crops, cereals, and fruit are decoratively arranged.

What year was Germany’s first Thanksgiving celebrated?

1621
The “First Thanksgiving” took place in 1621 between the Puritan pilgrims at Plymouth and the Wampanoag tribe. This celebration was to celebrate the Pilgrims’ first successful harvest and to thank the neighboring Wampanoag tribe.

When did Germany start celebrating erntedankfest?

When is Erntedankfest? In 1972, the Catholic church decreed that Erntedankfest be celebrated on the first Sunday in October, which is the first Sunday after Michaelstag (Michaelmas) on September 29.

Why is erntedankfest celebrated in Germany?

The Erntedankfest is a German Christian rural harvest festival celebrated by Catholics and Protestants. Erntedank literally translates as “harvest thanks.” The festival is a means of thanking God for the harvest and for the opportunity to rest after a season of hard work.

What tradition does Germany have?

Oktoberfest – also known as Wiesn – is the most famous German tradition, but there are several lesser-known traditions that are just as interesting as well as more original.

Where is Thanksgiving celebrated in Germany?

And whilst it is no public holiday in Germany it is still a popular period of the year. Mostly, it is celebrated by the churches and less within the families, but the history and the meaning is taught in kindergarten and school (especially primary school).

Why is Thanksgiving always on the third Thursday of November?

A couple years after Lincoln’s proclamation (which he announced as an attempt to unite the country during the Civil War) in 1865 President Andrew announced the first Thursday of the month as the official Thanksgiving Day. Then in 1869 President Ulysses S. Grant declared the third Thursday in November as the holiday.

What is the history of Thanksgiving in Germany?

President Lincoln declared a national Day of Thanksgiving on October 3, 1863. Thanksgiving in German Europe has a long tradition, but one that is different in many ways from that in North America. First of all, the Germanic Erntedankfest (“harvest festival of thanks”) is primarily a rural and a religious celebration.

What food does Germany eat on Thanksgiving?

There’s really no one meal for this holiday that’s served throughout Germany. For us, and for most Germans, it was what we all liked the best. And, that’s rouladen, red cabbage, and potato dumplings with lots and lots of wonderful rouladen gravy.

When is the final day of Thanksgiving in Germany?

Unlike in the US, where Thanksgiving is a fixed date, Germans rather perceive it as a period that spreads over several weeks. The final date is usually the first Sunday in October but it differs by region (and even church).

When does the Christmas shopping season start in Germany?

While Thanksgiving in the US is the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season, in Germany the unofficial starting date is Martinstag on November 11. (It used to be more significant as the start of 40 days of fasting before Christmas.)

Are there any official holidays or observances in Germany?

Official holidays Official holidays and non-working days Holidays and some observances Holidays (incl. some local) and observances Holidays (incl. all local) and observances Holidays and many observances All holidays/observances/religious events Custom – choose holidays… * Observed only in some communities of this state.

What do people in Germany eat for Thanksgiving?

Although Thanksgiving is usual not celebrated as such in German families the period is still used as a good reason to come together as a family. The typical dish is also turkey, or goose.