Today, November 26, marks Thanksgiving Day in the USA.

While Ireland is certainly home to a lot of expats, the Thanksgiving tradition has yet to catch on here, mainly because it is so tied into US and Canadian history.

The modern-day Thanksgiving celebration is usually traced back to a Pilgrim feast at Plymouth back in 1621 in honour of that year's good harvest.

And while Ireland has adopted traditions like Halloween trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving as its own, Thanksgiving is one autumn celebration that hasn't made it to these shores.

All the same, there are definitely a few elements of Thanksgiving we can totally get on board with…

1. Turkey, turkey, turkey
We never say no to a good roast dinner… and it means we don't have to wait until December 25.

 

2. A cheeky day off work
When is that ever a bad thing?

 

3. Pies, cornbread and green bean casserole
We're still not sure sure about sweet potato pie with marshmallow topping though.

 

4. Black Friday shopping discounts
Lots of Irish retailers have adopted the tradition of giving discounts on November 27, so prepare to blow your entire pay check tomorrow.

 

5. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Snoopy, Spongebob, Kermit – all our faves, only massive and inflatable.

 

6. Giving thanks and helping those less fortunate
Looking back at things we're grateful for over the past year should be something all of us do, regardless of where we're from.

 

7. Leftovers for days
Who can forget poor Ross and his stolen Thanksgiving sandwich?

 

8. Officially marking the start of the festive season
In Ireland, Christmas starts in that grey area between "after Halloween" and "December." In the US it's a lot easier to figure out.