At the start of the new year, we have a special day to bring smiles with a simple, yet powerful phrase: “Thank you.” Whether we choose to express our gratitude through heartfelt notes, kind gestures, or social media shout-outs, this event is a mighty reminder of the impact that appreciation has on our well-being and invites us to cultivate a habit of gratitude every day. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s Thank You Day?

👉 Official Name: Thank You Day
💚 Cause: Honor the power of saying “Thank you” in improving relationships and communities
📅 Next Date: January 11, 2026
🐦 Hashtags: #ThankYouDay, #InternationalThankYouDay, #SayThankYou

Keep on reading to find out all the important information about Thank You Day at a glance, including its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.

The Most Important Information About Thank You Day at a Glance

1️⃣ The big picture: Thank You Day, also called International Thank You Day, highlights the transformative power of gratitude in fostering stronger relationships and improving well-being. Honoring the efforts of those who positively impact our lives helps us build a culture of empathy, kindness, and respect. In addition, this day encourages us to be mindful of and actively respond with a “thank you” to all acts of support and kindness – even small daily gestures, like someone carrying an object, preparing a go-to snack, or welcoming us with a smile. Also, this is an opportunity to express gratitude towards ourselves and all the support we give to ourselves every day!

2️⃣ Why it is important: It has been scientifically proven that giving thanks makes us happier. Giving gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with more positive emotions as it relishes good experiences, improves our health, and helps us deal with adversity while building strong relationships. Gratitude can also help build and maintain relationships, resulting in hope, life satisfaction, and more proactive behaviors toward others. In addition, gratitude allows our brains to release serotonin and dopamine; two “feel good” chemicals that positively impact mood, willpower, and motivation. What’s more, being thankful can even help with depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep health. 

3️⃣ How you can get involved: You can celebrate Thank You Day by crafting some unique “thank you” notes, expressing gratitude through kind gestures, or appreciating the efforts of employees and coworkers:

1. Write “Thank You” notes: The best way to celebrate this wonderful event is by sending notes, greeting cards, letters, or emails in which you show your appreciation to people who supported you during vulnerable times. Make these notes heartfelt and specific, and send them to anyone who has helped you along the way, even if it has been months or even years since the event! These impactful gestures will bring smiles to everyone’s faces.
2. Give unspoken thanks: You can also celebrate with gestures of gratitude toward loved ones and dedicate them as gifts in return for their support. For example, you can cook a special meal, plan a nature trip, grab a coffee together, or simply stay with them, listen, and have a great time. 
3. Improve workplace gratitude: If you are an employer, this day is a great time to recognize the merits and efforts of your staff to improve their well-being and positive engagement with their job. If you are an employee, you can show your gratitude to your coworkers and managers for all the support they provided in your career. 

A Brief History of Thank You Day

When was this event established: The origins of Thank You Day are unclear, but the idea of a special day set aside to express gratitude for what we receive, our relationships, communal support, and our own accomplishments started in the early 1900s. Some suggest that the founding of this day can be attributed to Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith, a celebration guru. She is said to have come up with this day around 1994 and invested her efforts in promoting it on her blog. 

How has it developed since then: The rise of event calendars and unofficial celebrations after the 2010s has made Thank You Day more popular among communities across the globe and especially in the US. Today, countless people worldwide use Thank You Day to express gratitude towards their family, friends, and partners to strengthen their bonds and recognize selfless support. For instance, many people use the hashtag #InternationalThankYouDay to give digital shout-outs to dear people in their lives. 

3 Interesting Facts About Thank You Day

1. How “Thank You” came to be: “Thank you” started being used in the 13th century as an “expression of gratitude; kind feeling for another after a benefit received or service done.” It derives from the Old English “þanc, þonc” in its secondary sense of “grateful thought, good will, gratitude” and since 1792, it has been used as a noun (“thanks”).
2. Thank You cards: Expressing our thankfulness in written form has been a long-standing human phenomenon. For example, ancient Egyptians and Chinese would write friendship and good luck notes on papyrus. Then, in the 15th century, Europeans started exchanging social notes by hand delivering them to friends and family. Later on, in the 19th century, Louis Prang started the American thank-you card revolution. 
3. Only for politeness: In certain Western cultures, it has been observed that “parents train their kids to say ‘thank you’ whether they feel thankful or not.” More specifically, it has been noted that withholding food from children to teach politeness could make children believe that the word ‘thank you’ is a token they must use to get their food back rather than a genuine expression of gratitude.

Upcoming Dates of Thank You Day

Thank You Day is observed every year on January 11. 

Never Miss an Important Awareness Event Again

Sources

• HillRag: The Importance of Being Thankful
• UNESCO BMW: International Thank You Day- 11th January
• Psychology Today: The Power of Gratitude in Your Relationship
• Harvard Medical School: Giving thanks can make you happier
• Positive Psychology: What is Gratitude and Why Is It So Important?
• Forbes: The Science Of Gratitude: How Thankfulness Impacts Our Brains And Business
• UCLA Health: Health benefits of gratitude
• Adobe Express: 90 thank you card ideas for every occasion
• Harvard Business Review: Tips for Writing Meaningful Thank-You Notes
• Friendship with Intention: 25 GESTURES OF FRIENDSHIP APPRECIATION
• Swageazy: International Thank You Day: Start the New Year With Gratitude
• ADRIENNE SIOUX KOOPERSMITH’s Blogspot: International Thank You Days ©1994
• ADRIENNE SIOUX KOOPERSMITH’s Blogspot: home page
• Global Brands Magazine: International Thank-You Day – The Importance of Celebrating It.
• Etymonline: thank you
• Huff Post: Why Don’t We Say ‘You’re Welcome’ Anymore?
• Wikipedia: Thank you 
• MTM Recognition: The History of Thank You Notes
• Callaway Jones: The Power of “Thank You”