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Thanksgiving Around the World

“How different countries celebrate their own traditions of gratitude and harvest..”  

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Thanksgiving may be uniquely American in spirit, but the idea of setting aside a day to give thanks is far from exclusive to the United States. Around the world, a number of countries observe their own versions of the holiday—some rooted in harvest traditions, others in history or cultural influence. While the dates and customs vary, the underlying theme is remarkably consistent: gratitude for abundance and the ties that bind communities together.

Below is a quick look at where and when Thanksgiving-style celebrations
take place across the globe:

• Canada
  • Date:Second Monday in October
  • Notes:A national holiday in most provinces, centered on harvest traditions.
    (Source: Government of Canada; Wikipedia – Thanksgiving (Canada))

• Liberia
  • Date:First Thursday in November
  • Notes:Founded by formerly enslaved people from the United States, the holiday focuses on giving thanks but features different foods and customs.
    (Source: Liberia government information; Wikipedia – Thanksgiving)

• Saint Lucia
  
  • Date:First Monday in October
  • Notes:An official Thanksgiving holiday on the Caribbean island.
    (Source: Government of Saint Lucia; Wikipedia – Thanksgiving)

• Japan – Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinrō Kansha no Hi)
  
  • Date:November 23
  • Notes:A national holiday celebrating labor, gratitude, and harvest-season traditions.
    (Source: Japan Cabinet Office; various cultural references)

• Germany – Erntedankfest
  • Date:First Sunday in October (varies slightly by region)
  • Notes:A harvest festival rather than a national public holiday; celebrated mainly in churches and local communities.
    (Source: German cultural ministries; Wikipedia – Erntedankfest)

• Norfolk Island (Australia territory)
  
  • Date:Last Wednesday in November
  • Notes:Inspired by American whaling ships in the 19th century; preserves many U.S.-style Thanksgiving customs.
    (Source: Norfolk Island tourism; Wikipedia – Thanksgiving)

• Brazil
  
  • Date:Fourth Thursday in November
  • Notes:Established by law in 1949; observed mostly by some Protestant churches and American-influenced communities, not a major national holiday.
    (Source: Brazil Law No. 781/1949; Wikipedia – Thanksgiving)