Celebrations Across Nations 6

Thanksgiving

Description: Thanksgiving is an annual national holiday in the United
States and Canada which celebrates the harvest and other blessings of
the past year. Americans generally believe that their Thanksgiving is
modeled on a harvest feast shared by the English colonists or Pilgrims
of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people.

Traditions: A Thanksgiving meal is symbolic to the holiday which
typically includes turkey, bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, and
pumpkin pie.

Vesak

Description: This holiday signifies the birth of Buddha. The date isn’t
fixed because it depends on the lunar calendar. On Vesak, Buddhists all
over the world commemorate events of significance to Buddhists of all
traditions: The birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world.

Traditions: Buddhists will visit their local temple to make merit.

Yi Peng Festival

Description: Yi Peng Festival is celebrated in Thailand on the full moon
of the twelfth lunar month every year, which normally means mid-way
through November, but this can vary. People release floating lanterns
into the sky. The act of releasing the lantern symbolizes letting go of all
ills and misfortunes from the previous year. Buddhists also believe that
if you make a wish when you set off the lantern, it will come true.

Traditions: During Yi Peng homes and public places are decked out in
flag decorations and colorful hanging lanterns which are released.