Thanksgiving English: History, Vocabulary, Wishes and Black Friday Shopping English

The holiday is called Thanksgiving (often also Thanksgiving Day). In 2026, US Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, and the most common greeting is Happy Thanksgiving! The next day, November 27, is Black Friday. This guide brings together the history of Thanksgiving, 40 words, 20 wishes, thank-you card and work email templates, and Black Friday shopping and returns English.

The word breaks down into two parts:

• Thanks: gratitude, appreciation
• Giving: the act of giving

Put together, it is a holiday for giving thanks. Happy Thanksgiving! works with family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances. In American culture, Thanksgiving is about more than saying thank you: it is about getting together with family, sharing food, and reflecting on the people and things you are grateful for.

Thanksgiving vs. thankful vs. grateful

I’m thankful for my family.

I’m grateful for your support.

We celebrate Thanksgiving every November.

Thankful and grateful are close in meaning, but grateful is more often used for appreciation of someone’s help, support or kindness, and it is very common in workplace English:

I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to work with you.

This sentence works well in a business thank-you note.

Many people assume Thanksgiving is on a fixed date in November, but it isn’t. Both the US and Canada celebrate Thanksgiving, on different days.

US Thanksgiving: the fourth Thursday of November

US Thanksgiving is always on the fourth Thursday of November, so in 2026 it is Thursday, November 26, 2026. It is a federal holiday, and many families plan a big meal, travel or head home to be together. It also marks the start of the holiday season.

Canadian Thanksgiving: the second Monday of October

Canadian Thanksgiving is always on the second Monday of October, so in 2026 it was Monday, October 12, 2026 (it has already passed this year). It also centers on gratitude, the harvest and family time, but its history is not quite the same as in the US.

Why do the two countries celebrate on different days?

The US tradition is linked to harvest gatherings in the colonial period and gradually grew into a national holiday. Canadian Thanksgiving was shaped by the local harvest season, historical events and European thanksgiving traditions. Canada lies farther north, and in many areas the harvest comes earlier than in the US, so the two countries ended up with different dates and traditions.

To ask a friend from another country when they celebrate, you can say:

When do you celebrate Thanksgiving in your country?

When people think of Thanksgiving, many picture the 1621 harvest gathering at Plymouth, where English colonists and members of the Wampanoag people shared a harvest feast. That event later became a key part of the traditional American Thanksgiving story.

The real history, however, is far more complicated than the textbook version. For some Native American peoples, it is also a story of colonization, loss of land and later conflict, so Thanksgiving shouldn’t be told only as a tale of everyone living in harmony.

How did Thanksgiving become a national holiday?

Why is turkey the star of Thanksgiving?

A turkey is big enough to feed the whole family, and North America has a long tradition of eating it, so it gradually became the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving table. That said, there isn’t enough evidence to confirm that the 1621 feast included the kind of roast turkey we know today. The modern combination of turkey, pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce took shape over hundreds of years of food culture.

If you want to talk about Thanksgiving in English, start with three groups of words: food, activities and gratitude.

Thanksgiving food: 15 words

Turkey is the traditional centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner.

My favorite Thanksgiving dish is pumpkin pie.

We have plenty of leftovers from yesterday’s dinner.

Thanksgiving activities: 15 words

We’re having a potluck dinner this Thanksgiving.

Are you going home for Thanksgiving?

My friends and I are planning a Friendsgiving party.

Friendsgiving combines Friends and Thanksgiving and means a Thanksgiving get-together with friends. It is more relaxed than a traditional family dinner: people often each bring a dish, cook together or catch up. It is very common in everyday American life and on social media:

I’m hosting Friendsgiving at my apartment this weekend.

Gratitude and feelings: 10 words

Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude.

I cherish every moment with my family.

We have so many things to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving is the most common greeting, but saying only that every time can feel a bit flat. Here are 20 natural, practical Thanksgiving wishes, grouped by who you are writing to.

For friends

1. Happy Thanksgiving!
2. Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
3. Hope your Thanksgiving is filled with love and laughter.
4. I’m so thankful to have you as a friend.
5. Enjoy the food, family time, and holiday spirit!

For family

1. I’m grateful for all the love and support you’ve given me.
2. Thank you for always being there for me.
3. I’m blessed to have such a wonderful family.
4. Wishing our family a Thanksgiving filled with happiness.
5. No matter how far apart we are, I’m always thankful for you.

For coworkers

1. Happy Thanksgiving! It’s a pleasure working with you.
2. Thank you for being such a supportive teammate.
3. I’m grateful for everything we’ve accomplished together.
4. Wishing you and your family a relaxing Thanksgiving holiday.
5. Thank you for your hard work and dedication this year.

For clients, managers and business partners (formal)

1. Wishing you and your team a wonderful Thanksgiving.
2. We sincerely appreciate your continued trust and support.
3. Thank you for the opportunity to work together.
4. We are truly grateful for our partnership.
5. Wishing you continued success and a joyful holiday season.

Choosing a wish: match the tone to the person

With friends and family, warm and casual sentences work well; with coworkers, managers or clients, choose more formal, professional wording. Both of these say thank you, but they fit different situations:

I’m so thankful for our friendship!
Casual: between friends

We truly appreciate your continued support.
Formal: business settings

This is a key business English skill: it is not just about correct English, but about knowing which tone fits which situation.

When a friend or coworker says Happy Thanksgiving!, you don’t need a complicated answer. These five replies go from simple to ones that keep the conversation going:

The last one is great for speaking practice: you return the wish and naturally open the next topic.

Sample Thanksgiving conversation

A: Happy Thanksgiving!

B: Thanks! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

A: Are you doing anything special this year?

B: Yes, I’m having dinner with my family. How about you?

A: I’m going to a Friendsgiving party.

B: That sounds fun! Enjoy!

This short exchange covers greeting someone, sharing plans and keeping the conversation going, which makes it great everyday English practice.

Besides saying it out loud, Thanksgiving is a great time to write a thank-you card. You can use these three templates as they are.

Template 1: To a friend

Dear Sarah,

Happy Thanksgiving!
I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how grateful I am for our friendship.
Thank you for always being there for me and making life a little brighter.
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with happiness and love!

Best wishes,
Emily

Template 2: To a teacher

Dear Teacher,

Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for your patience, encouragement, and dedication.
I truly appreciate everything you’ve taught me and the support you’ve given me throughout my learning journey.
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Best regards,
Alex

Template 3: To your manager

Dear Mr. Johnson,

As Thanksgiving approaches, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your guidance and support.
Thank you for giving me opportunities to learn and grow professionally.
I truly value the experience of working with you and our team.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Best regards,
David

If you work for an international company or often deal with American clients, Thanksgiving is a natural chance to strengthen the relationship. One rule: a business thank-you note is not a sales pitch; the point is to say thank you sincerely. For more email phrasing, see our procurement English email templates.

Template 1: Thanksgiving greeting to a US client

Subject: Happy Thanksgiving from Our Team

Dear [Client’s Name],

As Thanksgiving approaches, we would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for your continued trust and support.
It has been a pleasure working with you, and we truly value our business relationship.
We look forward to continuing our successful collaboration in the coming year.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with happiness and joy.

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]

Template 2: Short thank-you note to an overseas coworker

Subject: Thank You and Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi [Name],

Happy Thanksgiving!
I just wanted to say thank you for all your support and teamwork this year.
I really appreciate your help, and it’s been great working with you.
Hope you have a relaxing holiday with your family and friends!

Best,
[Your Name]

5 useful phrases for business thank-you notes

Tip: when you’re not sure they celebrate Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving greetings are best for US clients or coworkers who celebrate the holiday. If the recipient isn’t in the US, or you’re not sure whether they celebrate, use a neutral thank-you line instead to avoid making cultural assumptions:

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Black Friday is the Friday right after US Thanksgiving. In 2026 it falls on Friday, November 27, 2026. Many retailers offer special discounts and limited-time deals that day, and today shoppers around the world pay attention, not just in the US.

Why is it called Black Friday?

One key source is the Philadelphia police, who used the term to describe the crowds, traffic jams and shopping chaos the day after Thanksgiving. Only later did retailers connect Black Friday with big year-end sales.

You may have heard another explanation: stores that were losing money (in the red) turned a profit (in the black) thanks to Black Friday sales. That is a business explanation that became popular later; it is not where the term originally came from.

Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday

Today the difference is less clear. Many online stores start their Black Friday sales early and keep them running through Cyber Monday, so you don’t always have to wait until the day after Thanksgiving for deals.

If you often shop on overseas websites, these words come in handy.

Common phrases on shopping websites

Get 50% off selected items.

Buy one, get one free.

Free shipping on orders over $100.

This offer is valid for a limited time only.

Only a few items left in stock.

Use promo code THANKS20 at checkout.

These are example sentences only, not real promotions or valid discount codes.

What does 30% off mean?

In English, “X% off” tells you how much is taken off the price, not how much you pay. To find what you pay, subtract the number from 100:

This jacket is 30% off.
You pay 70% of the original price.

All shoes are 50% off today.
Every pair of shoes is half price.

Is there an additional discount?

Black Friday brings lots of deals, but buying from overseas can also mean the wrong size, damaged items or late deliveries. Knowing basic shopping English makes these problems much easier to handle.

Return vs. refund vs. exchange

Common questions when shopping from overseas

1. Do you ship internationally?
2. How much is the shipping fee?
3. How long does delivery take?
4. Can I track my order?
5. What is your return policy?
6. Can I cancel my order?
7. The item arrived damaged.
8. I received the wrong item.

Sample customer service conversation

Customer: Hi, I’d like to return an item I purchased last week.

Customer Service: Of course. May I ask why you’d like to return it?

Customer: The size doesn’t fit me.

Customer Service: Would you prefer an exchange or a refund?

Customer: I’d prefer a refund, please.

Customer Service: No problem. Please follow the return instructions in your order confirmation email.

Conversations like this aren’t just for Black Friday; you’ll use them any time you shop online from overseas.

Once you know the words and phrases, the next step is to speak. Thanksgiving touches on family, food, culture and travel, so it is a great topic to discuss with an English teacher or friends from other countries.

Beginner: everyday conversation

1. Do you celebrate Thanksgiving?
2. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?
3. Do you prefer turkey or chicken?
4. How do you usually spend Thanksgiving?

Intermediate: sharing your thoughts

1. What are you thankful for this year?
2. Why do you think gratitude is important?
3. Would you rather celebrate Thanksgiving with family or friends?

Advanced: culture and opinions

1. How is Thanksgiving different from traditional holidays in Taiwan?
2. Do you think Black Friday encourages people to buy things they don’t need?
3. How can people express gratitude beyond giving gifts?

Sample answers: What are you thankful for this year?

The difference between the three answers isn’t just vocabulary; it is whether you can organize your ideas into complete, logical sentences.

Learning English isn’t just about memorizing words and grammar; it is about expressing yourself naturally in real situations. When a coworker says Happy Thanksgiving, can you reply naturally? When an American client sends holiday greetings, can you write back an appropriate email? When you need a return or exchange from an overseas website, can you explain it clearly to customer service?

Thanksgiving is a great place to start. Begin with I’m thankful for my family. and work your way up to I’m truly grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have helped me grow this year.

• Working professionals: before the holiday, draft your greetings to overseas coworkers or clients, adapting the phrases above into your own words.
• Students and self-learners: pick 3 speaking questions, record a 1-minute answer to each, then compare with the sample answers and add to your sentences.
• Want to sound more natural? Understanding a sentence doesn’t mean you can say it. In one-on-one online English lessons, a teacher can role-play dinners, workplace and customer service situations with you and correct your usage on the spot.

Want to go from understanding English to actually speaking it?

Ambitious Learner one-on-one online English lessons are tailored to your level and goals, and can help with everyday speaking, workplace communication and business emails, life abroad and cross-cultural communication, and interview English.

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Sources

• Congress Establishes Thanksgiving – U.S. National Archives
• Proclamation of Thanksgiving (1863) – Abraham Lincoln Online
• When Is Thanksgiving? – Farmers' Almanac