Thanksgiving isn’t a holiday typically associated with greeting cards – presumably because most of us are too busy racing across the country to be with each other, à la Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1988). But for those family members who can’t be physically present this year, or for those far-flung friends whom you normally have to appreciate from afar, a Thanksgiving-themed card could be a fun way to, well, give thanks!
Today, we’ve compiled a list of Thanksgiving quotes and messages to help you communicate those feelings – be they heartfelt, funny, or fueled by a love of mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. They’re diverse enough to cater for a range of recipients, and you can adapt them for cards, invites, menus, customized décor, social media posts, or even your pre-turkey toast. Read on and become inspired!
Thanksgiving Messages for Spouses and Partners
Thanking somebody who has agreed to spend their entire life with you is quite the daunting task; we don’t blame anyone for experiencing writer’s block. If you’re trying to sum up your feelings for a spouse this holiday season and are struggling to find the words, then here are a few poetic phrases for you to personalize. And if you’re not married, think of this as a trial run for a romantic Christmas proposal – as described in “From Ring Ideas to Proposal Tips: The Ultimate Christmas Engagement Guide.”
- Thank you for all that you do and for all that you are.
- I will always be thankful for your love, support, and companionship.
- Happy Thanksgiving to the love of my life – you make me feel truly blessed.
- I love you with all my heart – today, and always.
- I can’t thank you enough for everything you do – but I will certainly try!
Thanksgiving Messages for Family Members
More than anything – except perhaps roast turkey – Thanksgiving is about family. When the “people who’ve known you longest […] still show up,” it does add a kind of “richness” to the event. While you might be sending cards to your distant relatives, the following messages are designed to be shared around the table with your parents and siblings. That way, when it comes to your turn to mention what you’re grateful for, you can have something deep and meaningful to say!
- I’m grateful for every memory we’ve made together, and I look forward to creating even more this year.
- I am extremely lucky to have you all with me today, and I hope you enjoy yourselves!
- This year, I am most thankful for [name specific family member]. I will never forget how…
- Thank you for your continuous support, encouragement, and love.
- I’m looking forward to our [post-Thanksgiving dinner activity, like a movie marathon]. Thank you all for being here!
Thanksgiving Messages for Friends
Thanksgiving celebrations among friends are so popular now that a separate tradition has evolved: Friends-giving (explored in our “Ultimate Guide“). Held in the days leading up to or directly after Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving is low-key and laid back: a time to invite participants to an informal potluck rather than a ceremonious sit-down dinner. Just because the tone is casual, however, doesn’t mean the occasion is any less important, as the following messages suggest!
- Time to gobble until you wobble! Let’s get together for our annual Friendsgiving!
- Here’s to fun, food, and many more years of friendship.
- To my favorite person on my favorite holiday. Thank you for everything you do!
- Thanks for putting up with me – I know you like a challenge. Happy Thanksgiving!
- I’m blessed to have a best friend like you. Thank you for being my number one fan and greatest cheerleader.
Thanksgiving Messages for Coworkers
They might not be seated around your dinner table on Thanksgiving, but for all the lunch breaks, team-building activities, and Zoom meetings you’ve shared this year, your coworkers deserve to be acknowledged, too. As Artifact Uprising points out: “In business settings, we constantly communicate through phone or email, so sending a handwritten thank you to a helpful coworker is a memorable way to go the extra mile.” If you want to welcome a new team member into the fold or even share a grateful word or two with your customers and clients, here are a few templates to get you started.
- Everyone at [company] would like to thank you for your hard work and dedication. Wishing you and yours a happy Thanksgiving.
- Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous and gratitude-filled holiday!
- Without you, our team wouldn’t be where it is today. Enjoy a well-deserved rest!
- Working with you on [this project] was a highlight this year. Here’s hoping your Thanksgiving is another stand-out!
- Welcome to the team! We hope you enjoy your first Thanksgiving as part of [team/company name].
Funny Thanksgiving Messages
If the quotes thus far have been too serious for your tastes, then don’t worry, because this next list should provide a little comic relief. For some, Thanksgiving is mainly about making company laugh and finding inventive ways to declare your love of Thanksgiving dinner. To get your ribs tickling, then, we have a few wisecracks, witty statements, and terrible puns – a couple of turkeys, you might say. Borrow some of these for your funny Thanksgiving cards and your family will be rolling on the floor, clutching their sides… Before they even taste your cooking!
- May your stuffing be tasty and your turkey be plump!
- Thanksgiving: time to eat, sleep, and repeat!
- I’m thankful for you… Most of the time.
- Have the baste Thanksgiving yet!
- It doesn’t get much butter than this. Happy Thanksgiving!
Famous Thanksgiving Messages
The Thanksgiving holiday has inspired contributions from some of the greatest writers and philosophers, including Henry David Thoreau, Mark Twain, and good ol’ Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. If you want to impress your recipients and party guests with something profound this year, then here are our favorite musings on food, gratitude, and the holiday itself. Add them to a Thanksgiving doormat, include them on a Thanksgiving t-shirt, or put them on the cover of a gratitude journal as a year-round reminder!
- I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. – Henry David Thoreau.
- I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new. – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
- Silent gratitude isn’t very much use to anyone. – Gertrude Stein.
- There is no love sincerer than the love of food. – George Bernard Shaw.
- We should just be thankful for being together. I think that’s what they mean by “Thanksgiving,” Charlie Brown. – Marcie, Peanuts.
Short Thanksgiving Messages
Of course, there’s one substantial group of people we haven’t addressed yet: your online friends, followers, fans, and subscribers. Whether you want to caption an Instagram post, title a YouTube video, or add text to your next TikTok update, these short, snappy phrases are designed to say a lot with less. That also makes them suitable for customizing Thanksgiving stickers and favors, where space is limited, or for the front of a card, if you want a strong, eye-catching headline.
- Grateful vibes only!
- In my thankful era!
- ‘Tis the season – of gratitude!
- It’s sweater weather!
- Have a happy harvest!
Thanksgiving might be a couple of months away, but if these messages – along with that cozy September weather – have you thinking about the holidays, then check out our other posts: “Thanksgiving Decoration Ideas for a Memorable Feast” and “7 Noteworthy Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving.” And if you have any other sentiments or favorite quotes to share, let us know in the comments below. Then we can thank you, too!
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
