What Other Countries Celebrate Thanksgiving

We all know Thanksgiving in the United States look like baking up pies and more pies, decorating your home for all who will gather, and roasting up a big ole' turkey. But what about internationally: what countries celebrate Thanksgiving? How many countries are there that celebrate Thanksgiving? Do they celebrate it in Europe? Short answer: some places. What about in Japan? Short answer: yes, in its own way. And what about Canada? Yes, they do. Here we break down what countries celebrate a form of Thanksgiving around the world and what it looks like in each place based on their history and traditions.

In the U.S., the very first Thanksgiving dates back to 1621. But in others their traditions started one various dates in history before and after. Not all of them feast on turkey and dressing, but they all center around giving thanks and celebrating according to their own meaningful traditions (and they might just post on Instagram about it like we do). Read on to learn more about Thanksgiving in cultures all over the world.

Canada

Canada gets a head start on the U.S. each year with their more low-key version of Thanksgiving, or Action de Grâce in the French-speaking province of Quebec, in October.

The exact date has changed over the years in accordance with historical events like the restoration of peace with Russia, Armistice Day, and King Edward VII's coronation, but the second Monday of November has stuck since 1957 when Governor General Vincent proclaimed it “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”

The holiday also dates back earlier than the origins of American Thanksgiving. Back in 1578, Canadians gave thanks to celebrate celebrate Sir Martin Frobisher and his crew's safe arrival in the Eastern Arctic with a fast of salt beef, biscuits, and mushy peas.

Today, though, Canadians' menus look more like Americans do a month later. They have their exceptions though. In Newfoundland they prepare a Jigg's dinner of boiled meat served with a side of split pea pudding, and over in Ontario, dessert looks more like flaky butter tarts, a pastry filled with raisins, walnuts, or pecans.

Brazil

Thanksgiving in Brazil, called Dia de Ação de Graças, is a case of monkey see, monkey do. In this instance, the Brazilian ambassador to the U.S. saw Americans enjoying a day of eating delicious food and decided Brazil should do the same. He told then-President Gaspar Dutra of the festivities he observed after a trip in the 1940s, and since then it's become an unofficial holiday in the country.

Thanksgiving in Brazil is essentially the same, even down to the date of the fourth Thursday in November. Instead of having a march of our favorite inflated cartoon characters, Brazilians parade down the street and cap it off with a carnival. A church service giving thanks to the almighty precedes the Carnival-like celebration.