ThanksgivingisaholidaycelebratedinmuchofNorthAmerica,generallyobservedasanexpressionofgratitude,usuallytoGod.ThemostcommonviewofitsoriginisthatitwastogivethankstoGodforthebountyoftheautumnharvest.IntheUnitedStates,theholidayiscelebratedonthefourthThursdayinNovember.InCanada,wheretheharvestgenerallyendsearlierintheyear,theholidayiscelebratedonthesecondMondayinOctober,whichisobservedasColumbusDayorprotestedasIndigenousPeoplesDayintheUnitedStates.
Thanksgivingistraditionallycelebratedwithafeastsharedamongfriendsandfamily.IntheUnitedStates,itisanimportantfamilyholiday,andpeopleoftentravelacrossthecountrytobewithfamilymembersfortheholiday.TheThanksgivingholidayisgenerallya"four-day"weekendintheUnitedStates,inwhichAmericansaregiventherelevantThursdayandFridayoff.Thanksgivingisalmostentirelycelebratedathome,unliketheFourthofJulyorChristmas,whichareassociatedwithavarietyofsharedpublicexperiences(fireworks,caroling,etc.)