US Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, so the date changes every year. Canada celebrates much earlier, on the second Monday of October.
Choose your country and see how long until the turkey.
How to use the Thanksgiving Countdown#
- Choose what to count to. Choose between United States, fourth Thursday of November or Canada, second Monday of October.
- The figures are worked out when the page loads and again when you change an option or return to the tab.
- Use the extras. US Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November. Total hours, minutes and sleeps are listed underneath.
Two Thanksgivings#
In the US, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863, and Congress fixed it as the fourth Thursday of November in 1941. Canada’s Thanksgiving is a harvest celebration held on the second Monday of October, which fits its earlier harvest season. Both countries serve turkey, with pumpkin pie and vegetables.
Working back from the day#
A frozen turkey needs about a day in the fridge for every 2 kg to 2.5 kg, so a large bird has to start thawing four or five days before. Flights and trains are most expensive the day before and after. Order the bird and book travel at least three weeks ahead, and plan the menu a week before.
When is Thanksgiving in the next few years?#
US Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November. Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday of October.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| United States, fourth Thursday of November | ||
| 2026 | 26 November | Thursday |
| 2027 | 25 November | Thursday |
| 2028 | 23 November | Thursday |
| 2029 | 22 November | Thursday |
| 2030 | 28 November | Thursday |
| Canada, second Monday of October | ||
| 2026 | 12 October | Monday |
| 2027 | 11 October | Monday |
| 2028 | 9 October | Monday |
| 2029 | 8 October | Monday |
| 2030 | 14 October | Monday |
A turkey timetable for 2027#
US Thanksgiving in 2027 falls on Thu 25 November 2027. For a bird of about 6 kg (13 lb), plan like this:
| When | What to do | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 3 weeks out | Order the turkey and plan the menu | Thu 4 November 2027 |
| 5 days out | Move a frozen turkey to the fridge to thaw | Sat 20 November 2027 |
| 1 day out | Make pies and sides that keep well | Wed 24 November 2027 |
| The day | Roast, rest for 30 minutes, then carve | Thu 25 November 2027 |
The US Department of Agriculture says a turkey is safe once the thickest part of the thigh reaches 74 °C (165 °F). An unstuffed 5 to 6 kg bird typically takes around three to four hours at 165 °C (325 °F), but check with a thermometer and not just the clock.
The traditions and where they come from#
Many Americans link the day to a 1621 harvest feast shared by the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people. Presidents proclaimed it year by year until Congress made it law. The Macy’s parade in New York began in 1924, and the NFL has played games on the day since 1934. The Friday after is known as Black Friday and is a major shopping day.
Canada’s holiday on the second Monday of October, which in 2027 is Mon 11 October 2027, has its own history, going back to the 1500s and the explorer Martin Frobisher’s celebration of surviving a voyage.
Quick facts#
- The most travelled stretch in the United States is around Thanksgiving, with the Wednesday before and the Sunday after the busiest days on roads and at airports.
- Cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie are staples, though regional dishes vary a lot from state to state.
- The US President pardons a turkey each year in a ceremony at the White House, a custom that grew in the twentieth century.
- Canada’s Thanksgiving is earlier because the harvest in the north comes sooner, and it is a quieter holiday, without the Black Friday shopping that follows the American one.
Frequently asked questions#
The fourth Thursday of November.
The second Monday of October.
It isn’t a Nigerian holiday, but many families in the diaspora and some churches keep it.
In the fridge, allow about 24 hours for every 2 kg (4 to 5 lb). A 6 kg bird needs about three days, but a bit more is safer. In cold water you need about 30 minutes per 500 g, changing the water every half hour. Never thaw a turkey on the counter, because the outside warms up while the middle is still frozen.
A frozen turkey needs several days to thaw in the fridge, so start five days ahead for a big bird. Order fresh turkeys a few weeks early. Make the menu a week before, shop for non-perishables then, and buy fresh vegetables two days ahead. Pies and cranberry sauce can be made the day before, which frees the oven on the day itself.