23NOV2017 - Holiday Today - USA, Georgia, Japan
USA - Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day is one of the most important holidays in the United States. It was established as a federal holiday in 1863 and has been celebrated every year since then. Thanksgiving is observed on the fourth Thursday in November.
The history of Thanksgiving is typically associated with Plymouth Colony founded by the English immigrants who arrived aboard the Mayflower in 1620. Their first winter in the New World was very harsh, nearly half the settlers died. However, the pilgrims did manage to develop the colony and grow crops. In November 1621, they celebrated the harvest feast which is now referred to as “The First Thanksgiving”.
Georgia St - George's Day
St George is one of the most venerated saints in Georgia, and his feast day, known as St George's Day (or Giorgoba) is a public holiday. It's annually celebrated on November 23.
There are many legends about St George. Historians agree, that he really existed, but little faith can be placed in some of stories of him. According to the legends, St George was from Cappadocia, a historical region of Central Anatolia, present-day Turkey. He went to serve in the Roman army and showed himself as a brave and courageous warrior.
Japan - Labor Thanksgiving Day
Every year the Japanese commemorate labor and production on November 23. This is a special day, that is known as Labor Thanksgiving Day and it has got a very long history.
Labor Thanksgiving Day is modern name for the ancient cereals festival Niiname-sai. It's believed, that the rituals of Niiname-sai were developed during the rule of Emperor Jimmu in 660-585 BC. The more formalized celebration of harvest appeared during the reign of Emperor Seinei in 480-484 AD and historians were able to trace the written mentions about the festival only to the time of Emperor Temmu, ruling in 667-686 AD. Traditional ceremony of the festival included Emperor dedicating the year's harvest to spirits and tasting rice




