From the first Thanksgiving to the modern-day holiday that has evolved from it, the feast Americans celebrate each year on the fourth Thursday in November is a blend of myth, fact, legend, and oral history. However, the one thing that has always held true is that Thanksgiving is an American holiday with unique American traditions. But did you know that more countries than just the United States celebrate Thanksgiving? From Canada to Europe and more, many countries—11, by our count—celebrate their own version of Thanksgiving at different times of the year.
Each Thanksgiving has a different origin and meaning, but they're all celebrations of gratitude. In America, we mark the holiday by eating copious amounts of food, watching football, and decorating our homes with tributes to the fall season. But around the world, Thanksgiving traditions look much different. Read on to discover what countries celebrate Thanksgiving and what their Turkey Day traditions are like.
Canada
Our neighbors to the north celebrate their own version of Thanksgiving in mid-October. In 1957, Governor General Vincent Massey made the second Monday in October official by proclaiming it "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed."
Held in 1578 (predating the American first Thanksgiving), the original Canadian feast consisted of salt beef, peas, and biscuits. Nowadays the typical spread looks pretty similar to an American one except for the dessert table. Instead of pumpkin, Canadians go for pecans, walnuts, and raisins.
Liberia
According to NPR, Liberia is the only other country that officially celebrates Thanksgiving. It marks when freed American slaves founded the country in 1822 and takes place on the first Thursday of November.
This day usually revolves around a church service followed by a family meal and is considered to be a day of rest and relaxation. While there are no traditional holiday foods, a typical meal in Liberia might feature staples like rice, yams, and collard greens.
South India
The Tamil people thank the sun god, nature, and everyone and every animal who supports agriculture by hosting a four-day festival. Based on the solar calendar, this celebration is usually held in January or during the Tamil month of Thai. According to Business Insider, pongal, which translates as "overflowing" is a traditional dish made with milk, ghee, and rice. The Tamil culture regards it as a symbol of prosperity associated with abundance and affluence.
Ghana
The Homowo festival stretches three months from May until August and celebrates the bountiful harvest and rainfall that came after a famine in the 16th century. Homowo means "hooting at hunger" in the Ga language. In addition to food, the celebration includes plenty of dancing, parades, and singing.
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Held in late September or early October, the holiday of Erntedankfest—a similar gratitude-filled concept to American Thanksgiving—is held in rural towns all over these three countries. Residents give thanks for plentiful harvests with church services, parades, and music.
Japan
More similar to our Labor Day, the Japanese celebrate "Labor Thanksgiving Day" or Kinrõ Kansha no Hi each year on November 23. This public holiday honors those in the community who work. Labor festivals are held locally and bring awareness to human and environmental rights issues. Elementary school children also make crafts for labor workers such as police officers, firefighters, and hospital staff.
The Netherlands
Every journey needs a pit stop, and for the Pilgrims coming to America, their travel break was taken in the city of Leiden in the Netherlands. It was a brief stay, but the Dutch continue to celebrate a version of Thanksgiving. Rather than focusing on the feast, they celebrate the perseverance of the American settlers.
Grenada
Grenada, an island in the eastern Caribbean, started celebrating Thanksgiving only30 years ago. The United States military restored peace following the death of communist leader Maurice Bishop in 1983, and locals showed their thanks with an American-style Thanksgiving meal. The gesture has since blossomed into a new annual holiday.
China
In Chinese culture, the full moon symbolizes a family reunion. So, during the Full Moon festival (held for three days around the autumn equinox), you can expect feasts, dragon dancing, and lantern lighting. Adults and children enjoy mooncakes, pastries filled with sweet bean or lotus seed paste. Because the festival takes place during the harvest moon, these pies are also sacrificed to the one in the sky.
Kate McGregor is House Beautiful's SEO Editor, writing in-depth home renovation cost guides, design inspiration stories while overseeing gardening content through routine plant care guides. With over five years in the shelter industry creating content for brands like Domino, Real Simple, and Architectural Digest’s Clever, Kate has developed a passion for uncovering the personal stories that often lie behind the inspiration for people’s spaces. She previously worked as the assistant market editor at ELLE Decor, where she identified top products and brands in the industry as well as interviewed emerging designers about their thoughts on the latest interior design trends. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University. When not researching the specificities of begonia plant care, you can find Kate scouring vintage markets for the ideal wrought-iron chair, knitting yet another cardigan, or reading historical nonfiction.
