As Black Americans settle into the holiday season and get ready to throw down on all the grub we’ll be grubbing, let’s take a moment, right quick, to gaze into the Thanksgiving traditions of our cousins in Liberia.
Liberians, Black people who left the United States after the Civil War, carried many American traditions back to the Motherland. However, their way of celebrating Thanksgiving is entirely different.
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the first Thursday of November, during Liberia’s rainy season. For some, the holiday is truly about giving thanks: thanks to God, thanks to family, and thanks to the community. For others, it’s a day off from work.
Most Liberians spend the day with family and friends, enjoying jollof rice, spicy roasted chicken, and mashed cassava. Many use the day for worship, prayer, and reflection. Some view it as a celebration of liberation. Others reflect on the nation’s civil unrest. Ultimately, it is still a day to reflect and give thanks.
Thanksgiving in Liberia reminds us of the country’s resilience, how it came to be, and the unique culture that's rooted in indigenous and African American traditions. Ultimately, Liberian Thanksgiving is a day to pause, reflect on, and appreciate the blessings bestowed upon us all.