Thanksgiving is celebrated on November 27 in the United States and highlights history, tradition, gratitude, and cultural values passed through generations.
This Thursday, November 27, 2025, the Thanksgiving Day holiday is celebrated across the United States.
The date is always observed on the last Thursday of November and brings families together around abundant meals.
A collective sense of gratitude defines the celebration and preserves traditions passed down for generations.
Similar celebrations also take place in countries such as Canada and Australia, on a smaller scale.
The origins of Thanksgiving date back to the early 17th century with English settlers and Native peoples.
Indigenous groups taught farming techniques to the settlers. In return, a banquet was organized to give thanks.
The event is usually linked to a meeting in 1621, in the colony of Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The meeting involved the Pilgrims and members of the Wampanoag tribe. Historical records remain limited.
“Over the centuries, communities created their own harvest celebrations,” says Eloísa Monteiro.
In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.
In Brazil, the date was officially established by law in 1949, under President Eurico Gaspar Dutra.
Among the main symbols of Thanksgiving, the roasted turkey is the most iconic dish.
The meal also includes mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce.
“The holiday goes beyond the table, with parades, football games, and charity actions,” says Ana Claudia Favano.
Parades feature balloons, marching bands, decorated floats, and artists on city streets.
“Thanksgiving is also an opportunity to teach empathy and gratitude,” says Beatriz Martins.
In Brazil, bilingual schools use the date as a tool for cultural learning.
Students take part in themed activities, gratitude murals, and symbolic versions of the traditional dinner.
“Learning a language also means understanding another people’s history and habits,” explains Rafaela Marques.
