Thanksgiving messages that say what you're grateful for
In the United States, Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. Its story is usually traced to the 1621 harvest meal shared by the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people; Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving in 1863, and Congress fixed the current date in 1941. Canada celebrates its own Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. At the heart of the day is a family meal, often with turkey, and in many homes everyone takes a turn saying what they're thankful for.
A good Thanksgiving message goes beyond 'Happy Thanksgiving' and tells the other person why you're grateful for them: a kindness during a hard stretch, something they taught you, or simply having them in your life. If you won't make it to the table this year, say so warmly and let them know you're with them in spirit. Messages to colleagues and clients can be shorter and more formal. Below, Wishwiff's Gratitude tree lets the recipient stir up the wind so the leaves write their name across the sky.
How do you put gratitude into a Thanksgiving message?
- Say specifically why you're grateful for them; a detail like 'for walking me through my first month at work' means more than a general thanks.
- Borrow the around-the-table tradition and tell them why they made your gratitude list this year.
- If you can't be there, say so briefly and add a small detail from the meal to feel close, like 'Save me a slice of pumpkin pie.'
- For colleagues or clients, keep it short and professional; one line about how much you valued working together this year is enough.
- Send it Thursday morning or before the meal; once everyone sits down, phones tend to get ignored.
Example messages
Copy the one you like and send it as it is, or change it into your own words.
Short and warm
Happy Thanksgiving! I'm grateful to have you in my life this year.
Wishing you a full table and a house full of laughter.
You're at the top of my gratitude list today.
There may be an ocean between us, but I'm thinking of you today. Happy Thanksgiving!
Heartfelt
Thank you for everything you added to my year. I'm so glad you're here.
I can't be at your table, but you always have a place in my heart.
In a hard year, you were one of the best parts. I wanted you to know that.
Every year, the top of my gratitude list has the same name on it: yours.
Playful
Let's be fair to the turkey. It's his day too. 🦃
What I'm most grateful for this year is your endless patience with me.
Dinner-table debates aside, this family is still the best part.
I'm grateful for you, but I'm still not sharing the pumpkin pie.
On Wishwiff
The Gratitude tree is Wishwiff's Thanksgiving celebration. The recipient opens the link and stirs up the wind; the leaves lift off the tree and spell out their name across the sky. Seeing their own name written in leaves is a quiet way of showing gratitude before a single word is read. It's nicer with the sound on. Choosing the template and adding the names and your message takes less than a minute, and the recipient doesn't need to download anything.
Common questions
When is Thanksgiving?
In the US, it's the fourth Thursday of November, a date fixed by law in 1941. Canada's Thanksgiving is on the second Monday of October.
What's usually on a Thanksgiving table?
A traditional meal often includes roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. In many families, everyone shares what they're thankful for before eating.
How does the Gratitude tree work?
The recipient opens the link in their phone's browser and stirs up the wind so the leaves write their name in the sky. Once their name appears, your message follows, and they can reply with a thank-you emoji.
I'm sending from abroad. When should I send it?
Aim for Thursday morning in their time zone; from Turkey, the US East Coast is eight hours behind in late November, and the West Coast eleven. The Gratitude tree can be opened for 7 days before it's permanently deleted.