Gatherings · Free holiday calendar
The whole season, already on your phone
Turkey thaw days, the Secret Santa draw, cookie invitations, the last day a gift can ship for Christmas. Add our free calendar once and all 30 dates land in your own calendar, most with a link to the free tool for that day.
Add it in one tap
Free, no sign-up, and we never see who adds it. Your calendar keeps itself up to date if a date changes.
Want your own turkey times too?
The calendar has a thaw day for every frozen turkey from 9 to 24 lb. For your exact thaw day, oven time and dinner, worked out for your guest count, use the free turkey and oven planner and tap Add to my calendar.
Every date on the calendar
Hosting steps for a Thursday Thanksgiving and a Christmas Day dinner, the holidays themselves, and the carriers' last recommended shipping days for Christmas.
November 2026
- 10TueHosting
Thanksgiving: settle the guest count
Count everyone who will eat, then let the turkey planner work out the bird size, the thaw day and the oven time.
Free turkey and oven planner · Holiday Dinner Game Plan on Etsy
- 12ThuHosting
Order or reserve the turkey
Two weeks out is a calm time to order a fresh turkey or buy a frozen one, before the big stores get busy.
- 15SunHosting
Send the potluck sign-up link
One link in the group chat; every guest claims a dish, so you do not end up with four pies and no potatoes.
- 20FriHosting
Thaw day: a 21 to 24 lb frozen turkey goes in the fridge
For a Thursday dinner. Keep it in its wrapper on a tray on the bottom shelf. Allow about 24 hours for every 4 lb.
- 21SatHosting
Thaw day: a 17 to 20 lb frozen turkey goes in the fridge
For a Thursday dinner. Keep it in its wrapper on a tray on the bottom shelf. Allow about 24 hours for every 4 lb.
- 22SunHosting
Thaw day: a 13 to 16 lb frozen turkey goes in the fridge
For a Thursday dinner. Also a good day for the shopping that keeps: stock, butter, flour, sugar, canned pumpkin.
Thanksgiving hosting checklist · Holiday Dinner Game Plan on Etsy
- 23MonHosting
Thaw day: a 9 to 12 lb frozen turkey goes in the fridge
For a Thursday dinner. Keep it in its wrapper on a tray on the bottom shelf. Allow about 24 hours for every 4 lb.
- 24TueHosting
Fresh shopping and clear the fridge
Produce, dairy and herbs today, and make room in the fridge for the turkey, the make-ahead dishes and drinks.
- 25WedHosting
Make-ahead day: pies, cranberry sauce, set the table
Bake the pies, make the cranberry sauce, chill the drinks and set the table tonight so tomorrow is only cooking.
- 26ThuHoliday
Thanksgiving
Turkey in by the time on your schedule, out to rest about 30 minutes before you sit down. The sides go in while it rests.
Thanksgiving Day cooking schedule · Holiday Dinner Game Plan on Etsy
- 27FriHosting
Start the Christmas gift list before you shop
Names, a budget for each and gift ideas first, so the weekend's shopping goes to the right people.
Free Christmas gift budget calculator · Christmas Gift Planner on Etsy
- 29SunHosting
Draw Secret Santa names this week
Draw now and everyone has three weeks to shop. Private links mean nobody sees anyone else's name.
Free Secret Santa name draw · Secret Santa & White Elephant Kit on Etsy
December 2026
- 1TueHosting
Put December's parties on the calendar
Dinners, the office party, the cookie exchange and travel days: one look at the month before it fills up.
Christmas planning checklist · Christmas Planner Bundle on Etsy
- 4FriHoliday
Hanukkah begins at sundown
Eight nights, Dec. 4 to Dec. 12. Hanukkah is early this year, so mail Hanukkah gifts early too.
- 5SatHosting
Send cookie exchange invitations
Two weeks ahead gives every baker time to plan a batch. Ask for allergies and how many cookies each person brings.
Cookie exchange invitation wording · Cookie Exchange Party Planner on Etsy
- 8TueHosting
Address and mail the Christmas cards this week
Mailed this week, cards have plenty of time; USPS's last recommended First-Class send day is Dec. 17.
Free Christmas card address labels · Christmas Planner Bundle on Etsy
- 12SatHosting
Cookie exchange weekend
How many cookies each baker makes depends on the guest count. Have boxes and labels ready by the door.
Free cookie exchange calculator · Cookie Exchange Party Planner on Etsy
- 15TueLast day to ship
FedEx Ground Economy: last recommended ship day
FedEx's last recommended day to ship by Ground Economy for arrival by Dec. 24.
- 17ThuLast day to ship
USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail: last recommended send day
USPS's recommended send-by date for expected delivery before Dec. 25 in the lower 48 states. FedEx Ground with a 5-day transit is also Dec. 17.
Free wrapping paper calculator · USPS dates · FedEx dates · Christmas Gift Planner on Etsy
- 18FriLast day to ship
USPS Priority Mail: last recommended send day
USPS's recommended send-by date for expected delivery before Dec. 25 in the lower 48 states. FedEx Ground with a 4-day transit is also Dec. 18.
- 19SatLast day to ship
USPS Priority Mail Express: last recommended send day
USPS's recommended send-by date for expected delivery before Dec. 25 in the lower 48 states.
- 20SunHosting
Christmas dinner: order the roast or ham
Order this week so the cut you want is there. The roast planner gives the size and the oven time.
Free prime rib and ham planner · Holiday Hosting Bundle on Etsy
- 21MonLast day to ship
FedEx Express Saver: last recommended ship day
FedEx's last recommended day to ship by Express Saver, or FedEx Ground with a 3-day transit, for arrival by Dec. 24.
- 22TueLast day to ship
FedEx 2Day: last recommended ship day
FedEx's last recommended day to ship by FedEx 2Day for arrival by Dec. 24. FedEx Ground with a 2-day transit is also Dec. 22.
- 23WedLast day to ship
FedEx overnight: last recommended ship day
FedEx's last recommended day to ship overnight (First, Priority or Standard Overnight) for arrival by Dec. 24.
- 24ThuHoliday
Christmas Eve
Set the brunch table tonight and Christmas morning takes care of itself. (FedEx SameDay is the last FedEx option today.)
- 25Fri
- 26Sat
- 28MonHosting
New Year's Eve: send the plan to your group
Who is hosting, what to bring and how everyone gets home. Send it now while people are still off work.
Free New Year's Eve party timeline · Holiday Hosting Bundle on Etsy
- 31ThuHoliday
New Year's Eve
A toast to the year, and to everyone around your table.
2026 holiday shipping deadlines for Christmas
Last recommended days to send for delivery by Christmas in the lower 48 states (USPS: before Dec. 25; FedEx: by Dec. 24). Checked Nov 8, 2026.
| Carrier and service | Send by |
|---|---|
| FedEx Ground Economy | Tue, Dec. 15 |
| USPS Ground Advantage | Thu, Dec. 17 |
| USPS First-Class Mail (cards and letters) | Thu, Dec. 17 |
| FedEx Ground and Home Delivery, 5-day transit | Thu, Dec. 17 |
| USPS Priority Mail | Fri, Dec. 18 |
| FedEx Ground and Home Delivery, 4-day transit | Fri, Dec. 18 |
| USPS Priority Mail Express | Sat, Dec. 19 |
| FedEx Express Saver; Ground, 3-day transit | Mon, Dec. 21 |
| FedEx 2Day; Ground, 2-day transit | Tue, Dec. 22 |
| FedEx overnight services; Ground, 1-day transit | Wed, Dec. 23 |
| FedEx SameDay | Thu, Dec. 24 |
Sources: USPS 2026 holiday shipping dates and FedEx 2026 last days to ship. These are the carriers' recommended dates, not guarantees; Alaska, Hawaii and international mail need earlier dates. UPS had not published its 2026 dates when we checked.
Thanksgiving 2026: when to start thawing the turkey
For dinner on Thursday, Nov. 26, in the fridge, allowing about 24 hours for every 4 lb.
| Frozen turkey | Thawing time | Into the fridge |
|---|---|---|
| 9 to 12 lb | 3 days | Mon, Nov. 23 |
| 13 to 16 lb | 4 days | Sun, Nov. 22 |
| 17 to 20 lb | 5 days | Sat, Nov. 21 |
| 21 to 24 lb | 6 days | Fri, Nov. 20 |
Source: USDA: Turkey Basics, Safe Thawing (about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 lb; we use 4 lb to stay on the safe side). A thawed turkey keeps in the fridge 1 to 2 days.
Quick answers
Is the holiday calendar free?
Yes. It is free, there is nothing to sign up for, and we never see who adds it. Your calendar app downloads the dates from our site and shows them like any other calendar.
How do I add it to my iPhone?
Tap “Add to iPhone or Mac” and then Subscribe. The dates appear in the Calendar app as their own calendar, with a 9 AM alert on each day unless you turn alerts off for subscribed calendars. To remove it later, go to Settings, Calendar, Accounts, Subscribed Calendars.
How do I add it to Google Calendar?
Tap “Add to Google Calendar” and confirm. Google adds subscribed calendars from its website, so if the link opens the app and nothing happens, open this page on a computer once; the calendar then shows on your phone too. Google can take up to a day to show new dates.
Will it change after I add it?
If a carrier changes a date or we add one, your calendar updates on its own. Google and Outlook show the dates without our 9 AM alerts; set your own reminders there if you want them.
Can I get my own turkey times on my calendar?
Yes. Our free turkey and oven planner now has an “Add to my calendar” button: it puts your thaw day, oven time and dinner on your phone, worked out for your guest count and your dinner time.
Where do the shipping dates come from?
From the USPS 2026 holiday shipping page and the FedEx 2026 last-day-to-ship table, checked Nov 8, 2026. They are the carriers' recommended dates, not guarantees, and they are for the lower 48 states. UPS had not published its 2026 dates when we checked.
Plan the season on one page
The calendar tells you when. Our holiday planners hold everything else: the menu, the list, the budget and who is bringing what.
The menu, the shopping list and exactly when every dish goes in the oven, for 6, 12 or 24 guests.
Buy on Etsy See what is inside
Draw names with exclusions, wish lists, a budget and white elephant rules in one spreadsheet.
Buy on Etsy See what is inside
Everyone on your list, the budget, what you bought and what is still to wrap.
Buy on Etsy See what is inside
How many cookies each baker bakes, duplicates flagged, allergy notes and printable labels.
Buy on Etsy See what is inside
Four hosting planners: Thanksgiving, a Friendsgiving potluck, a holiday party and New Year's Eve.
Buy on Etsy See what is inside
The gift list, the Christmas card list, Secret Santa and the season's plans in one bundle.
Buy on Etsy See what is inside