Learn everything you need to know about the American celebration of Thanksgiving Day. This annual holiday is an occasion to gather with family, express gratitude and celebrate the autumn harvest with a hearty feast.
Discover what to serve at a traditional Thanksgiving meal with our best Thanksgiving recipes and menu ideas, including must-haves like roast turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
And for even more ideas, see our ultimate collection of Thanksgiving recipes or browse our best Thanksgiving gifts to buy. For shopping inspiration, see our Black Friday hub.
Thanksgiving Day
In the US, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated. After a joint resolution of Congress, President Franklin D Roosevelt issued a proclamation in 1941 designating the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.
Friends and family gather for a large celebration feast and give thanks for the year’s bounty. It is celebrated as a means of giving thanks for family, friends, food, health and other positivities. Some families incorporate religion by giving thanks in prayer, but Thanksgiving is a federal holiday and celebrated nationwide.
Historically, the origins of Thanksgiving date back to 1621, when the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth, Massachusetts, shared a harvest feast with the native Wampanoag people.
In modern times, the holiday has come to symbolise gratitude, peace and celebrating blessings. It is now celebrated with a large turkey dinner, American football, parades and volunteering. The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday and usually features large commercial sales and shopping for the Christmas season.
Canadian Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is also celebrated in Canada, but it falls in October, originating back to the colonial period. Parliament first established a national Thanksgiving Day in 1879, and it has been celebrated in Canada on the second Monday in October since 1957.
Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving menus are quite traditional, but differ due to regional and cultural differences. The most typical Thanksgiving dinner features a large roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. See below for some dishes to get you started, then discover more of our best American-inspired Thanksgiving recipes for feeding a crowd.
Turkey
A large roasted turkey tends to be the centrepiece of choice at Thanksgiving dinner, so much so that the holiday is nicknamed ‘Turkey Day’.
Our next level roast turkey is a favourite. Or, you can try Barney’s lemon & herb roast turkey with gravy, simple burnt lemon & thyme butter turkey. See more of our top turkey recipe ideas.
If you’re looking for a vegetarian alternative, our spiced squash, feta & beetroot wellington and creamy greens pot pie are both excellent centrepieces for a veggie feast.
Cranberry sauce is typically served to accompany the meal – use either canned or homemade.
Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a staple Thanksgiving dish to accompany the roast turkey, with gravy on top.
Try our classic mashed potatoes, whip up our easy garlic mash or see our ultimate collection of potato recipes.
Popular alternatives include creamy scalloped potatoes, slow-cooker potato gratin, sweet potato casserole and yams.
Stuffing and sides
American stuffing is usually made with chunks of bread, veg and herbs. While most people refer to it as ‘stuffing’ regardless of whether or not it’s been baked inside the turkey, some call it ‘dressing’ if it’s been baked in a roasting dish instead.
Try our classic Thanksgiving stuffing, Sam’s homemade sourdough, sausage & sage stuffing or discover our larger stuffing collection for more ideas.
Other popular side dishes include green bean casserole and macaroni & cheese. Find more ideas with our Thanksgiving side dish recipes.
Pie and dessert
Hearty autumn flavours are the dessert of choice at a Thanksgiving dinner.
Pumpkin, apple and pecan pie are all Thanksgiving classics that are sure to make an appearance. Combine two winning desserts with our pumpkin & pecan cheesecake pie.
Other popular desserts include cheesecake and cakes. See more Thanksgiving dessert ideas to round off the meal.
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