Thanksgiving is a national holiday, usually in October or November, in the United States of America, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in other countries, such as Brazil, Germany, and the Philippines. It is also held on Norfolk Island, a part of Australia. Originally, it was to be celebrated as a day of thanksgiving for all the bounty of harvest as well as that of the past year. There are many similarly named harvest festival holidays around the world during the fall. While For decades, Thanksgiving has shed its religious roots. Though steeped in cultural tradition, this holiday now transcends faith, uniting Americans of all backgrounds in gratitude and festivity. Read on to learn which countries celebrate Thanksgiving and what their Turkey Day traditions are like.

History to celebrate Thanksgiving

Many religions have prayers of thanks and harvest festivals. Thanksgiving in North America is rooted in English traditions. These date back to the Protestant Reformation and include harvest celebrations. However, New England’s harvest wraps up before late November. Yet, Thanksgiving is now celebrated then. It gained importance during Henry VIII’s reign. Before 1536, people had to attend church on 95 holidays and every Sunday. That year, the Church of England cut holidays to 27. The Puritans aimed to keep just the weekly Lord’s Day. They wanted to eliminate Christmas and Easter. Instead, they favoured days for fasting and giving thanks. Fasting was for disasters. Thanksgiving was for blessings. 

These included church services and gatherings. The tradition of Thanksgiving began with major events. For instance, the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 sparked celebrations. Similarly, the thwarted Gunpowder Plot of 1605 led to an annual tradition. In 1606, England started a yearly day of thanks. This was for protection against Catholic threats to the Protestant crown. It became known as Guy Fawkes Day on November 5. Fasting was required during plagues in 1604 and 1622, a drought in 1611, and floods in 1613. In 1619, English settlers at Berkeley Hundred in Virginia were asked to give Thanksgiving prayers upon their safe arrival.

China

The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival predates its eastern counterparts by over five centuries. This three-day feast aligns with the lunar calendar’s eighth month, around the 15th day. Families gather when the moon shines brightest, usually in late September or early October, to celebrate this ancient Thanksgiving tradition. The festival’s timing showcases nature’s celestial rhythms, marking a pivotal moment in China’s cultural calendar.

Australia

Norfolk Island, an Australian external territory, marks Thanksgiving uniquely. The holiday falls on November’s last Wednesday, echoing pre-World War II American traditions. The timing places it two days before or five days after the U.S. celebration, due to time zone differences. American whalers introduced this custom to Norfolk Island during their voyages, leaving a lasting cultural imprint on this remote Pacific outpost.

Brazil

In Brazil, National Thanksgiving Day was established on August 17, 1949, by President Gaspar Dutra, following Ambassador Joaquim Nabuco’s suggestion. Nabuco was inspired by the 1909 celebrations he witnessed in Washington’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. In 1966, the holiday was set for the fourth Thursday of November. Today, many American-origin families and various Protestant denominations celebrate it. Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and Nazarenes all embrace the festivities. Methodist universities participate too. Even evangelical groups like the Foursquare Gospel Church join the jubilant throng. Brazil’s diverse Protestant landscape unites in this vibrant celebration, showcasing a tapestry of faith traditions.

Canada

On the second Monday of October, Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving—l’Action de grâce in French. This annual holiday marks the harvest’s end with gratitude. Though rooted in religious tradition, it’s now largely secular. Parliament’s original act mentions God, yet most festivities occur outside churches. Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday across Canada, with two exceptions: New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Even there, the day is observed, though businesses may operate. This nationwide celebration unites Canadians in a spirit of thankfulness, regardless of its official status in each province.

Germany

On October’s first Sunday, German towns celebrate Erntedankfest. Churches adorned with autumn bounty host this cherished Christian harvest festival. Some communities mark the day with solemn processions or lively parades, blending faith and tradition. The event’s spiritual significance draws worshippers to give thanks for nature’s gifts, uniting communities in gratitude and celebration.

Liberia

In Liberia, Thanksgiving is on the first Thursday of November. In 1883, the legislature made it a national holiday. The holiday’s roots trace back to 1821. It was founded by former slaves and free people of color from the U.S., supported by the American Colonization Society. However, Liberian Thanksgiving differs from the American version. Not all families have a feast or cookout. There’s no specific Thanksgiving food. Some attend religious services, others just relax. Some view the holiday as a leftover from American settlers. After the second civil war, many began to see it as a time to be thankful for peace and stability.

Netherlands

From 1609 to 1620, many Pilgrims lived in Leiden. They recorded their lives at Pieterskerk. Each Thanksgiving, a special service is held there. This honors the hospitality they received before heading to the New World. In the Netherlands, orthodox Protestant churches celebrate Thanksgiving on the first Wednesday of November. This day is called Dankdag. It’s not a public holiday. People either go to evening church or take the day off to attend morning services, sometimes in the afternoon too.

Philippines

Once a U.S. colony, the Philippines shared America’s Thanksgiving tradition. The nations celebrated in unity until World War II disrupted this custom. During those dark years, both people kept the holiday alive clandestinely, preserving a cherished link despite occupation and strife. This was due to Japanese occupation. After the war, Thanksgiving continued until 1969. President Ferdinand Marcos revived it but moved the date to September 21, coinciding with the start of martial law. After Marcos was ousted in 1986, the holiday was dropped due to controversies over his rule.

By 2022, Thanksgiving returned as a commercial and cultural event, but not officially. SM Supermalls kicked off the revival, bringing back U.S.-style Thanksgiving. Now, many malls and hotels offer special sales. This marks the start of the Christmas season in the Philippines, which begins in September, unlike Black Friday in the U.S.

United Kingdom

The *Harvest Festival of Thanksgiving* in the UK lacks an official date. Yet, it typically occurs around the harvest moon Sunday closest to the autumn equinox. Its roots trace back to pre-Christian times. Saxons would offer the first crops to fertility gods. After the harvest, they held communal suppers. With Christianity’s arrival, many traditions persisted. Today, churches and schools celebrate it in late September or early October, just like in Canada. They sing, pray, and decorate with food baskets, giving thanks for the harvest. Often, they collect food for local charities aiding the homeless and those in need.

United States

In 1942, a family in Neffsville, Pennsylvania, said grace before Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving, a U.S. tradition, became official in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln. Yet states celebrated it even earlier. In 1941, Congress fixed Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. Traditionally, the holiday marks the year’s blessings, especially the harvest. On Thanksgiving, families eat together, attend church, and watch sports. Parades kick off Thanksgiving in many cities. Notable ones include:

• Macy in New York City
• ABC Dunkin’ Donuts in Philadelphia
• America’s Hometown in Plymouth, Massachusetts
• Bayou Classic in New Orleans

Thanksgiving kicks off the “Holiday Season.” The day after, known as Black Friday, signals the start of Christmas shopping. Typically, Thanksgiving is a family affair. Since the 2010s, a new trend has emerged. Now, many invite friends too, either on the same day or another time.

Ghana

Hunger’s defeat echoes through Ghana’s Homowo Festival, a three-month celebration born from the Ga people’s 16th-century trials. This African Thanksgiving, meaning “hooting at hunger,” commemorates their first harvest after a perilous journey. From May to August, possibly September, the festivities crescendo on a Saturday, its exact date fluid. The Homowo stands as one of Africa’s largest cultural gatherings, a testament to resilience and abundance.