Thanksgiving is a North American holiday and so no we don’t celebrate it in South Africa. It is also not a public holiday. We don’t share the same history and our harvest season is not in November. In South Africa we have our own harvest traditions that celebrate gratitude and renewal. One example is Umkhosi Wokweshwama, the Zulu First Fruits Festival, held each December in KwaZulu-Natal. It’s a deeply spiritual celebration led by the Zulu King, marking the new harvest season.

Back in 2012, I celebrated Thanksgiving with a group of American students living in Cape Town. I had stuffing ,cranberry berry sauce, turkey and sweet potatoes with marshmellows on top. Watched footballl and it was overall an fun and interesting experience. We each shared what we were thankful for, which, as an outsider, I think is what the holiday is really about-celebrating friends and family, and taking a moment to be grateful.

Why is Thanksgiving celebrated

Thanksgiving is a national holiday in North America, historically observed as a harvest festival. The American version is commonly believed to originate from a 1621 feast shared between English settlers (Pilgrims) and the Wampanoag people

Today, Thanksgiving is about gathering with loved ones, enjoying a hearty meal, and reflecting on what we’re thankful for.

A Note on Thanksgiving’s History

It’s also important to note that Thanksgiving is not celebrated by everyone in the United States. For many Native Americans, the holiday represents a painful history of colonization and loss. Some observe it instead as a National Day of Mourning to honour Indigenous history and resilience. While Thanksgiving has evolved into a day of gratitude and togetherness for many, it’s worth remembering its complex origins and the perspectives of those whose ancestors were affected. Read more here: https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/rethinking-thanksgiving

Where to buy turkey in South Africa?

If you’re planning a Thanksgiving dinner in Cape Town, finding a turkey is easier than you might think. Woolworths, Pick n Pay, and Checkers all sell turkey around the holiday season.

In Cape Town, where I’m from, several butcheries also stock turkey. Table View Butchery often has fresh options, while Hartlief in Constantia offers cooked, glazed, and stuffed turkeys. You won’t find birds as big as those in North America. South African turkeys usually range from 3 kg to 4.5 kg (about 6.6 to 10 lbs). Most of our turkeys are imported from Brazil and the United States since South Africa doesn’t have a large domestic turkey farming industry.

You can also find green beans, potatoes, and cranberry sauce at these major supermarkets. Woolworths sells premade stuffing, which makes prep a lot easier.

Yams, however, are a bit harder to come by. True yams are less common than sweet potatoes in South Africa, but you can find them at specialty African and Asian grocery stores or online at NaijaMart and Urban Ethnic Market. If you can’t find yams, sweet potatoes are a great substitute.

Pumpkin Pie, eggnog, and cider

Canned pumpkin is one of the hardest ingredients to find in South Africa. Fresh, peeled, and cubed pumpkin is easy to buy, but canned pumpkin isn’t something we commonly stock. If you want to make pumpkin pie from scratch, Numo has a good pumpkin purée recipe if you’d like to make your own, or you can buy ready-made pumpkin pie from Pick n Pay , Woolies and Eastland Pie Company.

As for eggnog, it’s not something you’ll find premade here. I actually tried it for the first time at a Christmas market in Germany! If you’d like to make your own, here’s a simple recipe: taste.co.za/recipes/traditional-eggnog.

We also don’t serve hot apple cider here-our “ciders” are cold, alcoholic drinks, so it’s a completely different thing.

Thanksgiving in Cape Town final thoughts

Whether you’re far from home or simply looking for a reason to gather and give thanks, celebrating Thanksgiving in South Africa can be just as special even under our sunny skies. Swap the snow for sunshine, invite some friends over, and enjoy your own version of an American classic right here in Cape Town.

Thank you for reading and I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving.