Thanksgiving Myth #3: Thanksgiving is exclusively an American holiday
Part of our Thanksgiving Myths theme week
If you’ve been following along with our Thanksgiving Myths Week, you already know that many of the stories we take for granted about this holiday are not quite what they seem. And for our final installment, we’re tackling one of the biggest assumptions of all: that Thanksgiving belongs solely to the United States.
Spoiler alert—it doesn’t.
While the American version has its own unique history and traditions, the idea of dedicating a day to gratitude, reflection, and feasting is far from exclusive to the U.S.
A Global Tradition of Giving Thanks
Across the world and throughout history, communities have paused to give thanks long before the pumpkin pie era. Many religions and cultures include thanksgiving ceremonies following harvests or major life events. So while modern American Thanksgiving has its roots in English customs shaped by the Protestant Reformation—with some influence from traditional harvest festivals—the core concept is universal.
Canada: A Familiar Feast With Older Roots
Most Americans know Canada celebrates Thanksgiving, but fewer know it predates the American version.
Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday in October and traces back to 1579, when the English explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew gave thanks in Newfoundland after surviving a harrowing voyage in search of the Northwest Passage. Historians even consider this the first Thanksgiving celebration in the Americas.
Canadians typically gather for their feast at some point over the long weekend—Sunday being the most common—and the menu feels very familiar: turkey, stuffing, gravy, and all the comfort foods we associate with the holiday. Even sports fans get their fix thanks to the Canadian Football League’s Thanksgiving Day Classic.
Grenada: A Thanksgiving Born From History and Gratitude
On the Caribbean island of Grenada, Thanksgiving arrives on October 25, but its origins have nothing to do with pilgrims or harvests—and everything to do with the United States.
The holiday commemorates the 1983 U.S. military intervention that restored order after the assassination of Grenada’s Prime Minister. American soldiers stationed there later told locals about their own upcoming Thanksgiving and its emphasis on gratitude. In response, the people of Grenada surprised the troops with a Thanksgiving-style feast, complete with turkey and trimmings.
Today, Grenada’s Thanksgiving Day honors that moment of solidarity and gratitude. Ceremonies, family gatherings, and even special American-style holiday meals—often offered by local hotels—carry on the tradition.
Norfolk Island, Australia: A Tiny Territory With a Big American-Inspired Tradition
On the remote Australian territory of Norfolk Island, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Wednesday of November—and this one is directly inspired by the American holiday.
In the 1800s, American whalers frequently visited the island, bringing with them traditions like pumpkin pie and cornbread. The story goes that an American consul, Isaac Robinson, began decorating a local church with fruits and greenery to mark Thanksgiving, and though he passed away shortly after, the tradition stuck.
Today, Norfolk Islanders celebrate with church displays overflowing with produce, later auctioned off for charity. And since turkeys are scarce in the South Pacific, the feast features roast pork, chicken, and plenty of banana-based dishes.
The Netherlands: Honoring the Pilgrims’ Stopover
Before the Pilgrims ever set foot on the Mayflower, they lived for years in Leiden in the Netherlands. The city had offered them refuge after they fled England seeking religious freedom.
To this day, Leiden hosts a non-denominational Thanksgiving service each year on the morning of American Thanksgiving, commemorating the welcome the Pilgrims received. Even though it’s not a public holiday in the Netherlands, many restaurants offer traditional American Thanksgiving meals for anyone who wants to join in.
The Real Takeaway
While the United States has certainly shaped what many of us think of as “Thanksgiving,” the idea that it’s an exclusively American holiday doesn’t hold up. Gratitude is a global theme, and the practice of marking that gratitude with a communal meal appears in cultures across continents.
So as we wrap up our Thanksgiving Myths Week, remember one thing:
The spirit of Thanksgiving—reflection, togetherness, and thankfulness—belongs to everyone.
Happy Thanksgiving, wherever you may be celebrating! 🦃