All About Fall Celebrations

The season of fall is my favorite for so many reasons. The smells, the colors, the flavors. And who doesn’t love a big cozy sweater or a cozy fire? For many of us, fall means Halloween and Thanksgiving, football and back to school. But what about the rest of the world? Have you ever wondered what everyone else is up to this time of year? Why don’t we take a short journey and find out all about fall celebrations around the world!

Fall Is Here!

It is hard to believe that it is already November! Despite all of the setbacks, this year has gone by so fast. November of course means something different to each and every one of us. For me, for the sake of pure honesty, it means that my Christmas tree will be going up! Don’t judge. Of course, it also means that one of my most favorite meals is coming, Thanksgiving! Who can resist the turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie? Not me! I thought it would be interesting to see what others are up to this time of year too. Are they carving turkeys, or dressing in Halloween costumes? Are they visiting family or watching football?

Fall In America

Let’s start our tour right here in America. Halloween is a pretty big commercial holiday here in the states. Not long after school starts you will see costumes and candy aisles filling up. Whether you celebrate it or not, you can’t stop those little trick or treaters from coming! While it is gaining popularity in other parts of the world, America definitely tops the list when it comes to Halloween celebrations.

Canada

While we are getting ready for Halloween, our Canadian friends up north are getting ready to carve the turkey! Just as in America, they gather with family and enjoy a delicious feast for Thanksgiving. They just do it a little sooner than us in the month of October.

China

Next, we travel across the seas to China, where the Mid-Autumn Festival is being held in honor of the harvest moon. I have had the honor of teaching many students from China, and can say that this is a big holiday for them. It is filled with family and delicious mooncakes. I have never had the opportunity to try one, but am told by my students that they can be sweet or savory. They are also beautiful!

Germany

Now it is off to Germany for Erntedank! What is that you ask? Well, it is the German Thanksgiving! Erntedank is the Harvest Thanksgiving Festival held every year in November in Germany. They celebrate with family, festivals and parades, and of course food! While you might find a turkey or two, you are more likely to find a dish with roulades (rolls of meat), potatoes and red cabbage.

Britain

In the United Kingdom, families are gearing up for the September celebration of the Harvest Festival. This festival goes way back in its roots. It was believed that a plentiful crop required the offering of the first sheath of corn to the god of fertility. Today, children continue this tradition by making corn dolls in honor of the goddess of grain.

Korea

Ready for some more food? Let’s move over to Korea for Chuseok! This holiday is their version of Thanksgiving. Also in the month of September, families spend three days gathering and honoring their ancestors. They also treat themselves to many delicious foods such as songpyeon, which are round sweet or savory rice cakes.

India

Our last stop today brings us to India, for Diwali. If you have never heard of Diwali, you should really look it up. The photos you will find are breathtaking! During this November holiday, families enjoy five days of fireworks, sweet foods, and absolutely gorgeous sand art called rangoli. This holiday is also known as the “festival of lights” because you will find homes decorated with candles and lanterns.

Well that was fun! I hope that you also enjoyed learning all about fall celebrations around the world. After reading through the holidays, you can engage your students in some fun activities to reinforce what they learned. These include matching the flag to the festival, writing prompts, anchor chart pieces and a rangoli (sand art) craft. Happy learning!