How Thanksgiving Day 2025 Was Celebrated Around the World – A Global Festival of Gratitude

Every fourth Thursday of November, millions of people around the world pause to give thanks. In 2025, Thanksgiving Day fell on November 27, and though the holiday is rooted in American tradition, its global influence has never been stronger. From classic turkey dinners in New York to Japan’s “Arigato Banquets” and Korea’s Chuseok-inspired feasts, Thanksgiving 2025 became one of the most widely observed unofficial holidays across the world.

Here’s how different countries celebrated Thanksgiving Day 2025.

United States & Canada – The Heart of Thanksgiving

Record Travel and Iconic Celebrations in the U.S.

• 58 million Americans traveled — the highest in history
• Airports saw their busiest day since 2019
• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:
  • 3.5 million spectators
  • 28 million TV viewers
  • New balloons: Baby Yoda-Grogu & 60-foot Pikachu
• NFL Thanksgiving Games averaged 31 million viewers
• 50+ million turkeys consumed
• Plant-based turkey sales jumped 42% vs 2024

Canada’s “Double Thanksgiving” Tradition

• Though Canada celebrates in October,
  thousands joined U.S. relatives on November 27
• Growing trend of “double Thanksgiving” among binational families

United Kingdom – “Friendsgiving” Takes Over London

• Thanksgiving 2025 overtook Halloween as the UK’s biggest American import
• Restaurants in London, Manchester & Edinburgh offered special menus
• Popular chains like The Blues Kitchen & Big Easy sold out early
• 400,000+ British households hosted Friendsgiving dinners
• Pumpkin spice became Harrods’ best-selling seasonal ingredient

Japan – The “Arigato Thanksgiving” Banquet Trend

• Japan blended American traditions with local flavors
• Department stores & hotels launched lavish Thanksgiving buffets
• Tokyo’s Park Hyatt sold 8,000 Thanksgiving dinners in one weekend
• FamilyMart & Lawson released turkey-onigiri & cranberry sandwiches
• Hashtag #アリガトーサンクスギビング reached 2.1 million posts

South Korea – When Chuseok Meets Thanksgiving

• Seoul saw new “Thanks-Chuseok” hybrid celebrations
• Feasts included songpyeon, deep-fried turkey, and fusion dishes
• U.S. military bases held joint celebrations with Korean families
• K-pop stars from BLACKPINK & BTS posted Thanksgiving messages
• Their pilgrim-hat posts went viral across social media

Australia & New Zealand – Summer Thanksgiving BBQs

• November marks early summer Down Under
• “Thanksgrilling” became the 2025 trend
• Grilled prawns, lamb & kangaroo replaced traditional turkey
• Beaches in Sydney & Auckland held sunrise gratitude yoga
• Turkey sales rose 300% year-over-year

Germany – Erntedankfest Meets American Thanksgiving

• Germany added November events as “German-American Thanksgiving”
• Churches served hybrid menus with turkey & stuffing
• U.S. bases in Ramstein & Stuttgart welcomed local German families
• Bavarian bakeries sold out of pumpkin pie by morning

Brazil – Thanksgiving Gains Popularity in São Paulo

• Expats & international schools popularized the holiday
• Rooftop Thanksgiving feasts with jazz bands became trendy
• Cranberry caipirinhas appeared on bar menus
• Turkey carved tableside became a highlight at upscale restaurants

Philippines – A Second Thanksgiving for Many Filipino Families

• Influenced by over 4 million Filipinos in the U.S.
• Jollibee launched a Turkey Crispy Chicken sandwich — viral hit
• Manila & Cebu malls hosted “Give Thanks” food festivals
• Lechon-style roasted turkey was the top attraction

The Universal Language of Gratitude

Across continents, cuisines, and cultures, Thanksgiving 2025 highlighted a universal truth:
gratitude connects humanity.

Whether whispered at a quiet dinner table in Paris, celebrated with K-pop beats in Seoul, or honored in churches across Africa, people around the world took a moment to say thank you.

In a year filled with both challenges and triumphs, Thanksgiving Day 2025 reminded us all that there is always something—and someone—to be thankful for.