Days Until Thanksgiving 2026

Thanksgiving Traditions Around the World

• United States — turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
• Canada — celebrated in October with similar food traditions but without the Black Friday shopping aftermath
• Germany — Erntedankfest (harvest thanksgiving) on the first Sunday of October
• Japan — Kinrō Kansha no Hi (Labour Thanksgiving Day) on November 23rd
• Liberia — celebrated on the first Thursday of November, modelled on American tradition
• Norfolk Island — celebrates Thanksgiving on the last Wednesday of November

Thanksgiving Meal Planning Guide

• Order your turkey at least 2 weeks ahead — fresh turkeys sell out quickly
• Plan your sides first — stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans
• Make cranberry sauce from scratch 2 days ahead — it keeps beautifully in the fridge
• Prepare pumpkin pies the day before — they set better overnight
• Brief your guests on what to bring to avoid duplicate dishes
• Set the table the night before so Thanksgiving morning is calm
• Start the turkey earlier than you think — timing is everything

Thanksgiving Facts

• Americans eat approximately 46 million turkeys on Thanksgiving each year
• The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been running since 1924
• The presidential turkey pardon tradition dates to 1989 under President George H.W. Bush
• Thanksgiving is the busiest travel period in the United States — over 50 million Americans travel each year

Count Down to Thanksgiving 2026

Our Thanksgiving countdown at the top of this page updates automatically every day — so you always know exactly how much time you have to plan the perfect Thanksgiving. Bookmark this page and share it with the family so everyone can track the countdown together.