Thanksgiving festivities in Rome on 26 November.

Thanksgiving is not a holiday widely celebrated in Rome, but there are some places where you can enjoy traditional food and festivities on Thursday 26 November.

America’s Catholic Church in Rome, S. Susanna, always hosts a special Thanksgiving Day Mass at 10.00. Due to a temporary closure this year's Mass will be celebrated at the nearby church of S. Camillo de Lellis, on the corner of Via Piemonte and Via Sallustiana, one block away from the American embassy. The presider and homilist will be the vice rector of S. Susanna, Fr Stephen E. Bossi, while the Presidential Proclamation will be read by the US ambassador to the Holy See, Kenneth F. Hackett. Afterwards the church will offer American coffee and fresh American muffins direct from the USA.

The American International Club hosts its annual Thanksgiving dinner for members and guests at Ristorante L’Archeologia, Via Appia Antica 139 this year. Following a prosecco aperitivo, guests can enjoy a menu of crema di zucca, polpettini di salsiccia della Tuscia and funghi porcini saltati, turkey with stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, spinach, cicoria ripassata, grilled vegetables, followed by pumpkin pie. To reserve see website.

This year Vivi Bistrot at Villa Doria Pamphilj is changing location and breaking with tradition by organising an additional "Thanksgiving Lunch" at Palazzo Braschi (Piazza Navona), after its dinner that evening became fully booked. For full details see website. 

If you fancy an extra-special Thanksgiving treat, try the restaurant at the exclusive Hotel Hassler at the top of the Spanish Steps. The menu includes legume soup with croutons, pumpkin ravioli with almonds and oranges, turkey with chestnut stuffing in cranberry sauce, sweet and sour corn, Brussels sprouts with butter, apple-flavoured head cabbage, and mashed sweet potatoes. See website. 

For a family ambiance visit Mama’s at Via Bellagio, from 19.30 to 21.30, where you can enjoy traditional Thanksgiving favourites accompanied by live jazz music. The menu comprises Yankee corn chowder, oven-roasted turkey with cranberry sauce, country baked Ham, chestnuts, sausage and mushroom stuffing, caramelised yams with pecan, Brussels sprouts, pumpkin pie. For details see Facebook event page. 

American-style bar and grill The Perfect Bun at Largo del Teatro Valle 4 also embraces the Thanksgiving holiday spirit each year, as does the Hard Rock Cafe on Via Veneto 62; the Abbey Theatre on Via del Governo Vecchio 51/53, near Piazza Navona; Scholars Lounge on Via del Plebiscito 101 near Piazza Venezia; and the Highlander on Vicolo di S. Biagio 9, in the historic centre. The next night, Friday 27 November, Rome's Comedy Club holds a special Thanksgiving show at Teatro Douze in Trastevere.

For those who would prefer to cook at home, the Castroni chain of shops stock many of the ingredients required for a Thanksgiving dinner.

Meanwhile an extra Thanksgiving event takes place in Rome this year, in advance on Saturday 21 November. The Little Reader is holding Thanksgiving-themed stories, games and arts and craft activities, dedicated to children aged three to six.

Please note that the US embassy in Rome is closed to the public on Thanksgiving Day.