Ultimate Guide to Thanksgiving in Australia 2024

When Is Thanksgiving Day in Australia?  

There is no set date for Thanksgiving Day on the Australian calendar because it is not a recognised public holiday in Australia. Australians do not celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday, unlike Americans, who celebrate it on the fourth Thursday of November.

However, because of the impact of other traditions and societies' growing interconnection, some Australians may decide to celebrate Thanksgiving on a customary American date or modify it to fit their schedules. Because there is no set date, Australians may celebrate this day of thankfulness whenever they see fit, making it a unique and diverse event nationwide.

Does Australia Celebrate Thanksgiving?  

The Wampanoag people and the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth conducted a harvest feast in 1621, which most Americans believe is the basis for Thanksgiving.

In conclusion, in 1620, some 100 pilgrims who disapproved of the Church of England sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to find a new home. The settlers founded a little settlement in Massachusetts, now known as Plymouth.

Half the pilgrims died of disease during their first winter in their new environment. When spring came, the indigenous settlers, the Wampanoag, instructed the pilgrims to cultivate maise, a new skill for them. Along with teaching them how to hunt and fish, they also demonstrated the finest crops to grow in the area.

In the fall of 1621, a plentiful cereal crop was gathered, especially barley and maise. The newcomers had plenty to be grateful for, so a feast was planned. The native chief and a few local tribe members were invited to the feast. The peasants brought deer with their poultry, while pilgrims brought extra wild meat. The immigrants learned how to prepare different kinds of corn and cranberries.

In subsequent years, several of the original pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving after the fall harvest. Thanksgiving Day was declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939. Harvest and Thanksgiving church services are sometimes organised as religious holidays in Australia, even though most people don't observe Thanksgiving.

Why Celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia?  

Thanksgiving, which has historically been an American holiday, is becoming increasingly well-liked in Australia as a way to honour family, unity, and thankfulness. Thanksgiving is a time for many Australians to get together, have a delectable dinner, and give thoughtful presents to those they care about.

Thanksgiving is not recognised in Australia, although its ideals are fundamental. Thanksgiving's emphasis on family, friends, and gratitude - a widely admired concept - is attracting more and more Australians. Thanksgiving gatherings and dinners are frequently arranged to enjoy a customary meal and express gratitude for the year's blessings.

Australians are drawn to embracing and modifying the holiday to fit their lifestyles because of its warmth and simplicity. Additionally, Thanksgiving is the ideal opportunity to enjoy outside and prepare for the warm season, as it falls just before the Australian summer.

How to Celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia?  

You'll also need to organise some enjoyable activities to keep people occupied. Although Thanksgiving customs are usually a lot of fun, we're talking about more than just that. We're talking about ten new Thanksgiving traditions you should include in this year's celebrations.

1. Expressing Gratitude

Think about what you must be grateful for to start your celebration. Make a list of your blessings, both individual and collective. This establishes the mood for the day and strengthens the Thanksgiving spirit.

2. Festive Decorations

Change the look of your room with an autumn design. Choose warm colours like orange, red, and brown to make the space comfortable and welcoming. Use symbols such as cornucopias, gourds, and pumpkins to convey the season's spirit.

3. Traditional Thanksgiving Meal

The elaborate feast is the focal point of Thanksgiving. Although the traditional turkey might seem inappropriate for Australia's climate, many people choose to eat roast chicken, lamb, or even seafood instead. For a genuinely authentic experience, serve your meal with traditional sides like pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. 

4. Family and Friends Gathering

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with those you care about. Stress the value of connection whether you're celebrating with loved ones or friends. To make enduring memories, play games, tell tales, and spend time together.

5. Community Service

Participate in philanthropic endeavours or community service to embrace the giving attitude. Donate to food banks, volunteer in neighbourhood organisations, or participate in projects that improve the lives of others. Acts of kindness are a great way to show thanks around Thanksgiving.

6. Virtual Celebrations

Thanksgiving gatherings may involve loved ones who live worldwide because of how globalised our society has become. Use video conversations to host virtual get-togethers, which let you celebrate with loved ones no matter how far away you live.

7. Take A Road

Journey Thanksgiving doesn't have to be a time when you can't travel. Make the most of the holiday by taking your loved ones somewhere unique! To keep the pace going, you may even prepare a Thanksgiving feast that you can eat on the run. 

Or you can go to a picnic in the park or on the beach that day for a few hours. Reading your favourite book, playing games or listening to music can make your day lovely. Here, we introduce Jackery Portable Power Station, a portable power supply to charge your electronics outdoors.

8. Make Care Packages

One of the most fulfilling things to do on Thanksgiving (or any time of the year) is assisting needy people. Making a care package packed with treats and donating them to the shelter or nonprofit in your area is one method to accomplish that.

9. Paint Pumpkins

Painting pumpkins is an entertaining DIY and the most adorable Thanksgiving décor! All you need are gourds and brushes, and everyone can get artistic!

10. Sing Karaoke

It's not always the turkey that steals the show! We promise everyone will enjoy listening to Grandma and Grandpa sing Thanksgiving tunes!

The Most Popular Thanksgiving Australia Recipes

Here are our selections for three of the most well-liked Australian Thanksgiving dishes out of the numerous recipes available.

Dry Brine Turkey

Step 1: Remove the giblets from the turkey's cavity two days before cooking. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.

Step 2: Combine the sugar and salt in a small bowl. Apply the salt mixture all over the turkey, paying particular attention to the breast and other thicker areas. In a big roasting pan, place the bird. Cover and refrigerate for two days.

Step 3: Empty the pan's bottom of any liquid an hour before cooking. After using paper towels to pat dry, leave the turkey at room temperature for an hour.

Step 4: Preheat the oven to 425° before roasting. Put the garlic, butter, thyme, red pepper, and a few black pepper grinds in a medium-sized bowl. Apply around half of the garlic mixture to the turkey. Use kitchen twine to secure the turkey's legs together. Put the turkey inside the roasting pan on a roasting rack.

Step 5: Brush the turkey with the leftover garlic mixture midway through the 45-minute roasting time. Roast for an additional 45 minutes or until the thickest part of the breast reaches 160°.

Step 6: Before slicing, let the turkey rest for 15 minutes.

Maple-Cranberry Baked Brie

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°. Make an ice bath in a large dish. Put the green beans in a large pot of boiling water, stirring. Using tongs, put the beans in an ice bath to cool. Drain and transfer to another large basin.

Step 2: In another big pot or saucepan, four tablespoons of butter should be melted over medium heat. Simmer for about 7 minutes, turning now and then, until the onion gets soft. Put in the onion and a lot of salt. When you add the mushrooms, stir them around for at least seven more minutes while they boil until they turn brown. For taste, add salt and pepper.

Step 3: Melt the rest of the eight tablespoons of butter in the same pot over medium heat. Mix in the flour and cook, stirring frequently, until it turns golden and toasted, about 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk and add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Heat it until it boils, then let it simmer while stirring occasionally for about 4 minutes until it thickens. Mix the green beans with the casserole and stir well to combine everything nicely. Feel free to use a 13" x 9" baking dish!

Step 4: Bake the green bean casserole for about 30 minutes or until it is bubbling and thoroughly heated.

Step 5: Add fried onions and bake for five minutes or until well heated.

Brussels Sprout Casserole

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°. Cook bacon in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat, turning regularly, until it's nice and crispy, which should take about 8 minutes. Gently move it with a slotted spoon to a plate. Remove the fat from the bacon.

Step 2: Melt the butter. Add shallots and Brussels sprouts, then season with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Transfer the bacon to a cutting board and coarsely chop it.

Step 4: After removing the skillet from the burner, pour the cream. Add bacon, Gruyère, and cheddar on top.

Step 5: Bake the casserole for 12 to 15 minutes or until the cheese bubbles. (If your cheese isn't browned, broil it for approximately a minute while carefully watching it.)

How to Prepare for A Thanksgiving Party?

This list of preparations is essential for a Thanksgiving celebration because it will need a lot of labour.

1-3 Weeks Before: Plan Your Menu

A few weeks before Thanksgiving, you should confirm who will be attending and make plans for the menu:

Send out a guest list invitations by email or paperless post. Tell guests what time supper will be served and if they need to bring anything. Don't be scared to let your visitors help with a fun cheese board or appetisers. It simplifies things! They get extra credit if they bring an app that doesn't need an oven.

Write down every dish you'll be preparing and the ingredients you'll need to make it to plan your Thanksgiving meal. Get all the food you require by going to the grocery shop. I usually do this five to seven days in advance, but occasionally, you might want to order your turkey in advance.

4-5 Days Before: Get Your Table Ready

Although it may seem early, you should begin setting up your Thanksgiving dishes and table about a week in advance! Arrange the serving utensils in advance. If you want to serve family style, this will let you determine how much space you'll need on your table. Additionally, it will assist you in noting which dessert, side dish, etc., should be served with each meal.

Plates, silverware, serving utensils, bowls, wine glasses, roasting pans, and other serving items should all be removed. Put a note in each dish indicating which recipe it contains. You'll benefit from this on the big day.

3 Days Before: Clean & Decorate

It's a good idea to start organising your area a few days before Thanksgiving, even if you'll be cleaning, decluttering, and cleaning again before the holiday.

• Make your home clean. If you can or need to, hire help.
• Arrange the settings and seating at the table. Use seasonal decorations to adorn the table. I adore candles, brass candlesticks, and a plain tablecloth.
• Simple accents like pears, figs, adorable small bowls, and foliage and vases make a significant impact. Less is more.
• Make Spotify music for supper.
• Defrost the turkey in the refrigerator.
• Find or choose a portable power station, like Jackery Portable Power Station, to charge appliances and electronics, such as your lights, portable speakers, projectors, and more, especially for outdoor parties.

2-3 Days Before: Bake & Prep Ingredients

Preparing and baking in advance is one of my finest pieces of advice! Pies will still taste great right out of the refrigerator, and on the day of the event, you'll save time and space in the oven. If you can, cut the ingredients and store them in the refrigerator.

Prepare your pies in advance. If needed, remove the coolers and place them outside for additional drinks. Start preparing the components that require cutting, etc. You can save time and cook other recipes that will be nicely stored in the refrigerator. Stack the side dishes in a large ice-filled cooler if you cannot fit them all in your refrigerator.

1-2 Days Before: Prep Your Sides

For convenience, a variety of side dishes may be prepared in advance, totally or partially, and then quickly baked or warmed on the day of the event.

Prepare appetisers and side dishes in advance. On the day of, this saves a tonne of time. I can't emphasise this enough: try to prepare as much as possible in advance! For advice on preparing Thanksgiving meals in advance, see the complete article & notes section when you click over to any of my recipes.

• The night before, arrange and finish the table. Any last information?
• Arrange your clothing so you don't have to think about it and know exactly what you wear.
• Establish a schedule for serving your appetisers, putting the turkey in, and estimating how long it will take. You should also figure out how long it will take to make or reheat the side dishes.

Jackery Portable Power Stations for Thanksgiving

There are many ways to celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia, unlike traditions, to embrace the beauty of this world. For example, you can have a backyard party for family and friends or just picnic alone at the beach to hear the sound of the sea waves and read your favourite book. No matter how you celebrate this day, you will use electricity to some degree.

As we all know, Jackery is a well-known solar product brand that always bears sustainability in mind and contributes to producing items with higher quality and lower carbon footprint. To charge your portable speakers, phones, projectors, or even cameras, we recommend Jackery Portable Power Station, the portable power supply for meeting your power needs wherever you are.

It is simple to recharge the power station; you can use wall outlets, carports, or our Jackery Solar Panels. Due to the sufficient sunlight in Australia, it is possible to combine Jackery Solar Panels with Portable Power Station (Jackery Solar Generator) to use solar energy fully. Here, we recommend Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus and 1000 Pro for charging essential appliances in Thanksgiving gatherings.

Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus

As for home use, we recommend Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus, which has an expandable capacity from 2 kWh to 12 kWh to satisfy the home electricity usage for a few weeks. With its impressive capacity and powerful output, this device can support the operation of typical appliances used in Thanksgiving gatherings for extended periods.

• Expandable Powerhouse for Thanksgiving: The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus enables the addition of extra battery packs, increasing the capacity from 2 kWhto an impressive 12 kWh, thereby significantly improving the solar charging capabilities. This solar product has a remarkable output of 3000W, providing a 30% higher rated power than other 2 kWh solar products. Almost all necessary Thanksgiving appliances are powered.
• Higher Resistance & Reliability: The Explorer 2000 Plusstands out as a groundbreaking add-on battery pack that offers the convenience of recharging through solar panels. This feature increases versatility, boosts charging efficiency, and shortens charging time.
• Lower Noise for Safe Use at Home: The whisper-loud noise and quiet-charging mode make the Jackery Explorer2000 Plus an ideal companion for home use. Reduced noise fosters a tranquil and pleasant atmosphere, alleviating stress and enhancing overall well-being.

Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro

Here, we also recommend Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro for outdoor activities on Thanksgiving Day, such as picnicking, hiking, boating, etc. It powers numerous devices concurrently using a completely compatible power station! The 1000W portable power station, with a battery capacity 1002Wh, maintains the charge of your electronic gadgets.

• Power over 93% of Devices: The rechargeable solar generator 1000 Pro boasts a capacity of 1002Whand a surge output of 2000W, making it capable of supporting up to 93% of appliances, including camping lights, coffee makers, portable coolers, and more. It features 2 USB-C and 2 100W PD ports, ensuring reliable and fast charging for your phone, iPad, laptop, and more.
• Safety & Compatibility: The advanced BMS (Battery Management System) offers 12layers of protection against short circuits, overvoltages, and additional risks. The pure sine wave inverter provides dependable electricity to protect your appliances. The LED light, equipped with three brightness modes, assists you during outdoor explorations.
• Portable for Thanksgiving Party: The Explorer 1000 Pro weighs merely 5 kg, representing approximately 70%of the weight and dimensions of comparable alternatives with equivalent capacity. Featuring an ergonomic handle, it is readily portable for your Thanksgiving gathering.  

Thanksgiving in Australia FAQs

The following are the frequently asked questions about the Thanksgiving in Australia 2024:

1. Is Thanksgiving celebrated in Australia?

There is no set date for Thanksgiving Day on the Australian calendar because it is not a recognised public holiday in Australia. Australians do not celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday, unlike Americans, who celebrate it on the fourth Thursday of November.

2. What does Thanksgiving celebrate?

In the US and Canada, Thanksgiving Day is a yearly national holiday honouring the harvest and other benefits of the previous year. Most Americans think Thanksgiving is based on a harvest feast the Wampanoag people and the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth had in 1621.

3. Is Thanksgiving a public holiday?

It is occasionally referred to as American Thanksgiving outside of the United States to differentiate it from the Canadian holiday of the same name and similar festivities in other places.

4. Is Thanksgiving bigger than Christmas in America?

More than Christmas or the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving is the most significant American holiday because it brings families together, allows them to show thanks to one another, and makes them feel closer than ever.

Final Thoughts

Australia's Thanksgiving celebration demonstrates how everyone wants to show appreciation and acknowledge life's benefits. Even though the holiday isn't particularly embedded in Australian society, individuals from all walks of life may relate to its values.

Australians may celebrate Thanksgiving in a way that honours the spirit of togetherness and gratitude while reflecting their individuality by fusing traditional features with regional customs. Thanksgiving serves as a reminder that we all share in the fullness of the human experience, regardless of our origins, as we join together around tables and engage with our communities. We hope Thanksgiving is fantastic for you.