Norfolk Island “Thanksgiving Day” Wednesday 29 November 2023

Celebration of Thanksgiving Day relates to the celebration of the English Harvest Home festival, that took place around the end of November. It is also the link to the American whalers which dates back to the generations on Pitcairn Island. When researching the history of “Thanksgiving Day on Norfolk Island” I learnt that the first Thanksgiving on Norfolk Island was possibly held by the Pitcairn Islanders in the upper room in the Soldiers Barracks. Later the Pitcairn Islanders built a church in Kingston in 1870 named All Saints Church. This church was destroyed in a major storm. The following “Thanksgiving Day” service was held in the courtroom which was filled with seats. Then after the completion of converting the Commissariat Store into the All Saints Church in 1874, services have been held there ever since.

“Thanksgiving Day” is observed on the last Wednesday in November every year on Norfolk Island. This year, the Public Holiday will be on Wednesday, 29 November, locals will gather at the Norfolk Island churches, attending the “Thanksgiving Day Service”. Everyone will enjoy a morning of hymns, the organ playing, and singing the wonderful hymns which link to America and the whaling historic links to Norfolk Island.

The Norfolk Island Church of England

Service times:

10am, Thanksgiving Day service - down at All Saints Kingston,

1pm, Thanksgiving Day - Potluck Lunch at the St Barnabas Chapel Parish Centre.

All people are welcome, so come and join us for some, or all of the day. We would love to see yorlie there.

Thanksgiving Day services will also be held at Uniting Church on Cascade Road, opposite the Norfolk Island Central School.

Listen to the Norfolk Island Radio public notices for Thanksgiving Day service times.

Thanksgiving Day is not traditionally observed on the mainland Australia, however here on Norfolk Island, which is an external territory, the Norfolk Islanders celebrate this special holiday. Norfolk Island is one of the few countries outside of America and Canada who annually celebrates “Thanksgiving Day”.

The churches isles will be decorated with corn and sugar cane and local produce, stunning sunflowers, along with fresh vegetables and fruits, it will be a great sight to see. The sale of produce and baking is held in the Church courtyard after the service. Everyone enjoys the fresh sweet corn and so many other freshly harvested vegetables and fruits.

The Thanksgiving Day tradition continues strongly to this day. The day is spent with family and friends, the public holiday is observed with many businesses closing for the day. Picnics are held, eating sweet pies and foods linking to treats introduced by the American Whalers. On Thanksgiving Day, many families swim at Emily Bay and sports club have fun events.

Here are a few photographs I have taken in previous years of the Thanksgiving church services.

It is only a month to Christmas, everyone will enjoy a day relaxing on our beautiful Norfolk Island and the bounty of fresh food shared with good friends and family.

Happy Thanksgiving Day Yourlie.

Betty Matthews

November 2023