Thanksgiving as a named holiday is mainly celebrated in a few countries, plus many others have similar harvest “thanksgiving” festivals.
Countries with an official Thanksgiving
- United States – National holiday on the fourth Thursday in November.
- Canada – National holiday on the second Monday in October.
- Liberia – National holiday on the first Thursday in November.
- Saint Lucia – Thanksgiving on the first Monday in October.
- Grenada – Thanksgiving on October 25, marking the 1983 U.S.-led intervention.
Places with similar “thanksgiving” festivals
Many countries have harvest or gratitude festivals that play a similar role, even if they are not called Thanksgiving.
- Germany (and sometimes Austria, Switzerland) – Erntedankfest, a Christian harvest thanksgiving in early autumn.
- Japan – Labor Thanksgiving Day on November 23, rooted in ancient harvest rites.
- United Kingdom – Harvest festival of thanksgiving in churches and schools in late September or early October.
- Netherlands – Some churches and the city of Leiden mark a thanksgiving related to the Pilgrims.
Other countries sometimes listed
Some sources also note “Thanksgiving-style” observances or non‑official celebrations in places such as Brazil, Australia’s Norfolk Island, the Philippines, Rwanda, and parts of India and South Korea, usually tied to harvest or local history rather than the North American tradition.
