National Holiday
What is Thanksgiving Day?
Annual harvest-festival holiday observed in the US, Canada, and a handful of other countries.
9
Countries
Aug 5
2026
Aug 5
2027
History & Origins
Thanksgiving is an annual harvest-celebration holiday observed primarily in the United States (fourth Thursday of November) and Canada (second Monday of October). The American holiday traces its popular origin to a 1621 feast shared between the Pilgrim colonists of Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag people of the Pokanoket tribe — though historians note that such harvest celebrations were common across many cultures and the 1621 event was not called Thanksgiving at the time.
The modern American Thanksgiving was established as a national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, during the Civil War, as a day of national unity and gratitude. In 1941 Congress fixed the date as the fourth Thursday of November. Canada's Thanksgiving developed separately, influenced by European harvest festivals, and has been observed on the second Monday of October since 1957.
The centrepiece of American Thanksgiving is a large family meal traditionally featuring roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, begun in 1924, and the start of the Christmas shopping season ("Black Friday" the following day) have become inseparable cultural associations with the holiday. Versions of Thanksgiving are also observed in Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and the Netherlands.
When is Thanksgiving Day?
Which countries observe Thanksgiving Day?
9 countries- Croatia08/05
- Switzerland09/20
- Saint Lucia10/05
- Canada10/12
- Grenada10/25
- Liberia11/05
- Japan11/23
- United States11/26
- Solomon Islands12/26
Related Holidays
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Indigenous Peoples' Day
Second Monday of October in the US, 12 October across most of Latin America. Increasingly observed as Indigenous Peoples' Day in place of Columbus Day.
National Holiday
Independence Day
4 July — the United States's national day, marking the 1776 Declaration of Independence.
National Holiday
Memorial Day
Last Monday of May — honours US military personnel who died in service.
National Holiday
Veterans Day
11 November — honours military veterans (US Veterans Day, Armistice in much of Europe).
National Holiday
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Third Monday of January — US federal holiday honouring the civil-rights leader.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Thanksgiving Day?
- Thanksgiving is an annual harvest-celebration holiday observed primarily in the United States (fourth Thursday of November) and Canada (second Monday of October). The American holiday traces its popular origin to a 1621 feast shared between the Pilgrim colonists of Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag people of the Pokanoket tribe — though historians note that such harvest celebrations were common across many cultures and the 1621 event was not called Thanksgiving at the time.
- When is Thanksgiving Day in 2026?
- Thanksgiving Day falls on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 in most countries that observe it.
- When is Thanksgiving Day in 2027?
- Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday, August 5, 2027 in most countries that observe it.
- How many countries observe Thanksgiving Day?
- Thanksgiving Day is observed as a public holiday in 9 countries, including Croatia, Switzerland, Saint Lucia, Canada, Grenada.
- Is Thanksgiving Day a public holiday?
- Yes — Thanksgiving Day is recognised as a public holiday in 9 countries. Observance rules, names, and exact dates may differ by country.