Getty ImagesTomorrow is Thanksgiving. In preparation, Americans are licking their chops and readying their stomachs for unconscionable amounts of turkey and a stifling amount of kisses from their grandmothers.
It's a truly American holiday — food, friends and family take center stage.
But at it's heart, Thanksgiving is a harvest festival, where we give thanks for the fruits of our collective labor. And that is a concept that is celebrated the world over.
The history, rituals and dates may change, but harvest festivals are otherwise the same: to thank a higher power, or its equivalent, for the food on our tables.
The New Yam Festival is celebrated by the Igbo people of Africa
Held after the rainy season in August, the Igbo people (mainly of Nigeria but also from elsewhere in the region) come together to celebrate the importance of the yam.
The yam is venerated by the people of the area, and in its honor the Igbo perform folk dances, march in parades, play music, and of course, eat.
Sukkot is also known as the Feast of the Tabernacles
Unofficially called one of the more pleasant Jewish holidays to sit through, Sukkot is celebrated in autumn and the word refers to the temporary houses built to resemble ancient Jewish dwellings.
The etrog (an Israeli lemon) is one of the symbols of the occasion, and stuffed foods — like stuffed peppers, eggplants, fruits and pastries — are traditionally popular.
"Lohri" is mainly celebrated in northern India
Lohri is a Hindu holiday that is traditionally celebrated on January 13, typically celebrated in the Punjab region. Families have bonfires, sing and dance, and prayers are given to the god of fire.
The holiday marks a good crop, and is particularly important for families that recently experienced a momentous event, like a marriage or birth.
The Fiesta de la Vendimia in Mendoza, Argentina is mostly about grapes and wine
The Mendoza region of Argentina is fabled for its vineyards, which makes it the perfect place to hold a celebration of one of the country's greatest products.
The festival started in 1936 and has been growing ever since. Today, Argentinians and tourists from all over journey to Mendoza to see the fireworks, parades, fruit benedictions and to drink copious amounts of vino.