Who Celebrates Thanksgiving? Global & Religious Answers
From Muslims and Mormons to Jehovah's Witnesses and Jewish Americans — which religious groups celebrate Thanksgiving, and which countries observe it beyond the US?
Why Thanksgiving Is Different from Other Holidays
Unlike Christmas or Easter, Thanksgiving has no explicitly Christian religious content. It's a national civic holiday in the United States, officially designated to express gratitude and gather with family. This secular character means that most religious communities — Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist — have no fundamental theological objection to participating.
The main exceptions are groups that avoid all cultural holidays not explicitly sanctioned by scripture — most notably Jehovah's Witnesses. Below is a group-by-group breakdown.
Thanksgiving by Religion
Muslims
Generally yes — with nuanceThanksgiving is not a religious holiday and carries no Islamic theological conflict in itself — it's a national American holiday centered on gratitude and family. Most Muslim scholars permit Thanksgiving participation; gratitude (shukr) is a core Islamic value. Some more conservative scholars advise caution about the holiday's historical narrative regarding Indigenous peoples, but the act of gathering with family and expressing thankfulness is not considered haram. Whether it is 'haram to celebrate Thanksgiving' is a question with a generally permissive answer from mainstream Islamic scholarship in North America.
Amish
Many do — quietlyThe Amish observe Thanksgiving as a day of prayer, family gathering, and a large meal. Their celebration is simple and devout rather than commercial. They don't watch football, participate in Black Friday, or engage in other secular trappings. For the Amish, the holiday aligns naturally with their values of thankfulness and communal family life.
Mormons (Latter-day Saints)
Yes, enthusiasticallyThe LDS Church has no theological objection to Thanksgiving. Most Mormon families celebrate it with a traditional meal and family gathering. Gratitude is a core LDS value, and many families incorporate prayer and scripture into their Thanksgiving observance.
Hindus
Yes — many doHinduism has no theological conflict with Thanksgiving. Hindu-American families commonly celebrate it as a cultural American holiday, often blending traditional American fare with Indian dishes. The themes of harvest, gratitude, and family gathering resonate with Hindu cultural values.
Seventh-Day Adventists
YesSeventh-Day Adventists celebrate Thanksgiving with family meals and gratitude to God. Many Adventist families maintain plant-based or vegetarian Thanksgiving menus in keeping with the denomination's health principles. The holiday is fully embraced as a time for giving thanks.
Jewish Americans
Widely yesAmerican Jewish families widely celebrate Thanksgiving. The holiday has no Christian religious content and poses no theological conflict with Judaism. Jewish-American Thanksgiving traditions often blend traditional American dishes with Jewish culinary influences. Some Jewish families describe Thanksgiving as one of the most Jewish of American holidays — centered on family, food, and gratitude.
Jehovah's Witnesses
NoJehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Thanksgiving. Their theological position is that holidays rooted in historical or national traditions — rather than direct biblical instruction — are not to be observed. This applies to Thanksgiving as well as Christmas, Halloween, and birthdays.
Which Countries Celebrate Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is primarily an American and Canadian holiday. A handful of other countries have their own distinct harvest or gratitude holidays that share some similarities:
Canada
Second Monday in OctoberCanada has its own Thanksgiving, celebrated in October rather than November. It predates the American holiday and is similarly focused on harvest, family gatherings, and turkey dinners. It's a statutory holiday in most Canadian provinces.
Liberia
First Thursday in NovemberLiberia, founded by freed American slaves, adopted many American traditions including Thanksgiving. Liberian Thanksgiving is celebrated with a feast that often includes traditional Liberian foods alongside turkey.
Grenada
October 25thGrenada celebrates Thanksgiving Day annually on October 25th to commemorate the 1983 US military intervention that is viewed positively by many Grenadians. It predates the American holiday in its current national meaning.
Australia, Mexico, Ireland
No official ThanksgivingThese countries don't have a Thanksgiving holiday, though American expatriate communities may observe it informally. The American-style Thanksgiving is widely known globally through media but not observed as a local holiday in most countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it haram to celebrate Thanksgiving? +
What religion does not celebrate Thanksgiving? +
Does Canada celebrate Thanksgiving? +
Do they celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia? +
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