Thanksgiving Traditions Around the World You Didn't Know About

When most people think of Thanksgiving, they picture an American table laden with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. But the spirit of Thanksgiving — gratitude for the harvest, togetherness with family, and celebration of abundance — is far older and far more widespread than any single national tradition.

Here's a tour of Thanksgiving and harvest celebrations from around the world that might surprise you.

United States — The Fourth Thursday of November

American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year — making Thanksgiving 2026 fall on November 26th. The holiday commemorates a 1621 feast shared between the Pilgrim colonists and the Wampanoag people in Plymouth, Massachusetts, though the modern holiday as we know it was formally established by Abraham Lincoln in 1863.

Traditions include a large family meal centred on roast turkey, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, NFL football, and the presidential turkey pardon — a quirky White House tradition where a turkey is ceremonially spared from the dinner table.

Canada — The Second Monday of October

Canada's Thanksgiving predates the American version by several decades. Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October — making it nearly six weeks earlier than its American counterpart. The earlier date reflects Canada's shorter growing season and earlier harvest.

Canadian Thanksgiving traditions are broadly similar to American ones — turkey, family gatherings, and gratitude — but tend to be somewhat quieter and less commercialised, without the Black Friday shopping frenzy that follows American Thanksgiving the next day.

Germany — Erntedankfest

Germany's harvest festival, Erntedankfest, is celebrated on the first Sunday of October. The name translates simply as 'harvest thanksgiving festival.' Traditionally a religious celebration, Erntedankfest involves church services, processions, and elaborate displays of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

In rural areas, it remains a significant community event. In cities, it is less widely observed, though farmers' markets and local festivals keep the tradition alive.

Japan — Kinrō Kansha no Hi

Japan's Labour Thanksgiving Day, Kinrō Kansha no Hi, is celebrated on November 23rd each year. The modern holiday was established in 1948 to celebrate labour and production — but it has ancient roots in the Niiname-sai, a Shinto harvest ritual in which the Emperor would offer newly harvested rice to the gods.

Today it is largely a public holiday rather than an active celebration, though the connection to gratitude for harvest and hard work remains embedded in its origins.

Liberia — The First Thursday of November

Liberia, founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century, celebrates Thanksgiving on the first Thursday of November — directly modelled on the American tradition the founders brought with them. Liberian Thanksgiving is celebrated with roast chicken (turkey being less available), green bean stew, sweet potato pie, and jollof rice.

It remains one of the most widely observed national holidays in Liberia.

The Universal Spirit of Thanksgiving

From Korea's Chuseok harvest festival to the Indian festival of Pongal, nearly every culture on earth has some form of harvest celebration rooted in the same instinct: gratitude for abundance, acknowledgment of hard work, and the joy of sharing food with people you love.

Whatever your tradition, Thanksgiving is a reminder to pause, look at what you have, and be genuinely grateful for it.

Count Down to Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26th. Use our live Thanksgiving countdown at daysuntil.me to track exactly how many days remain — so you have plenty of time to plan the menu, order the turkey, and invite the family.