Thanksgiving is not a traditional holiday in Italy, it is a uniquely North American celebration. Italians do have a simi lar concept called La Festa del Ringraziamento (The Feast of Thanks), which refers to various harvest festivals or saints’ days, but these are distinct from our Thanksgiving. In Italy, you might find Americans celebrating the holiday with traditional menus, or American Thanksgiving celebrations in Italy that incorporate Italian elements like antipasto and pasta alongside turkey. The feast day of Festa di San Martino on November 11th is the closest Italian parallel to Thanksgiving, marking the end of the agricultural year. According to the legend, Saint Martin of Tours shared his cloak with a beggar and the sun appeared, creating an unseasonably warm spell known as the “Estate di San Martino” (St. Martin’s summer). The occasion is celebrated with roasted chestnuts, a feast of goose or other poultry, and the uncorking of vino novello (new wine).

Sagre or Harvest Festivals are celebrated in towns and villages across Italy to celebrate specific foods as they are harvested throughout the autumn. These food festivals may fea ture chestnuts, truffles, mushrooms, pumpkins, wine, or freshly pressed olive oil. The events are a celebration of local food and drink, providing authentic tastes of a region’s culinary traditions. For Americans who may live in Italy and for Italians who have adopted the practice, Thanksgiving is celebrated in a hybrid fashion, blending American and Italian elements. While roasted turkey is not a common meal for Italians, it the centerpiece of the table of many Americans living in Italy and it can be special ordered from a butcher. The meal is often expanded with Italian dishes like pumpkin risotto or sausage and sage stuffing, served alongside American classics like candied sweet potatoes, string bean casserole, or brussel sprouts. While specialty stores in major cities may carry ingredients like cranberry sauce, many staples are hard to find and require creative substitutions The gatherings Americans living in Italy often host a “Friendsgiving,” inviting both American and Italian friends and family to the celebration. Restaurants in cities with large American populations, such a Rome, Florence, or Milan, offer special Thanksgiving menus. Since Thanksgiving is a normal workday in Italy, Americans may move their cele brations to the next Friday or even a weekend. Italians who have immigrated to North America have fully embraced Thanksgiving, combining their heritage into the traditional menu. It’s common for these celebrations to feature a multi course dinner that might include:

*A pasta course, such as lasagna or ravioli, in addition to the turkey.

*An elaborate antipasto platter with cured meats and cheese.

*A wider variety of desserts, including Italian treats like tiramisu or panna cotta. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where you are or how you celebrate Thanksgiving. Some gather around a large table with generations of family, and others share a simple meal with close friends, and still others may just have a quiet day alone. There’s no right way to celebrate … no specific food, tradition, or setting that defines the day. What truly matters is the spirit behind it all … gratitude. Thanksgiving is a time to pause and think about what we have … it’s about being thankful for the big things and the small ones too … health, home, family and friends, and even the challenges we may have faced. It’s a reminder to always look for something to be grateful for. So whether you’re laughing around a crowded table, FaceTiming with loved ones, volunteering in your community, or just enjoying a quiet moment to yourself, remember that the heart of Thanksgiving isn’t about the setting or the meal … it’s about recognizing the blessings in our lives and cherishing the people we get to share them with.