Thanksgiving Day in Liberia is observed every first Thursday of November. This holiday, established in the early 1880s when the Liberian government declared it, reflects the country's unique heritage as the only African state founded by African-American immigrants. Liberians celebrate Thanksgiving as a day of gratitude for their freedom and the establishment of their nation. The day typically involves attending Christian church services where participants bring fresh fruits from the harvest to be auctioned off after the service. Following the church activities, families return home to celebrate, although the festivities are not as grand as those in the United States. The holiday emphasizes thankfulness for the liberation of slaves and the opportunity to live freely in Liberia.