Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day
A typical Thanksgiving dinner in the United States
Observed byCanada, Germany, Kazakhstan, Liberia, Saint Lucia, Switzerland, United States, Norfolk Island
TypeNational, cultural
DateVarious
List of dates
  • Kazakhstan
    • 1st day of March
      • March 1, 2026
      • March 1, 2027
  • Germany
    • 1st Sunday in October
      • October 4, 2026
      • October 3, 2027
  • Canada
    • 2nd Monday in October
      • October 12, 2026
      • October 11, 2027
  • Liberia
    • 1st Thursday in November
      • November 5, 2026
      • November 4, 2027
  • Norfolk Island
    • Last Wednesday in November
      • November 25, 2026
      • November 24, 2027
  • United States
    • 4th Thursday in November
      • November 26, 2026
      • November 25, 2027

Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory of Norfolk Island. It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the preceding year. Various similarly named harvest festival holidays occur throughout the world during autumn. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well.