What Jennifer Aniston Was Grateful for This Thanksgiving

— -- Jennifer Aniston got a big surprise on Thanksgiving Day -- her husband Justin Theroux.

"My husband, who's been away for almost a year it feels, surprised me on Thanksgiving and came home from Germany. It was really sweet," Aniston told host Ellen DeGeneres on an episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" airing Wednesday. "We had just been together the week prior; I was going to London to do some work. His schedule was apparently 'completely booked' for the week, and he wasn't going to be able to come back."

At least that's what Aniston thought. She went ahead and hosted their annual dinner the night before Thanksgiving, she explained. "We call it 'Fakesgiving' or 'Friendsgiving.' It's for all the orphans -- people who don't have places to go," she said.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the same without Theroux.

"Everyone came to the house and no one really understood that Justin was not going to be there. And you just saw everybody's face just start to fall. The whole room was depressed," the "Office Christmas Party" star, 47, said. "I was like, 'Guys, I'm here! OK? I understand Justin's not here, but it's going to be OK! We'll have it next year.' I gave the toast at the head of the dinner table, which is usually me and Justin. I gave a very, I guess, unimpressive toast where people were like, 'Oh, yeah. Great.'"

After the salads were served, the mood remained somber.

Then, Aniston said, "Next thing you know, turkey walks in and there was another turkey holding that turkey. And that was my hubby."

Theroux was able to stay until Sunday, when he flew back to Germany, but Aniston was grateful for their time together.

"We got a good couple days," she said.

Aniston and Theroux, 45, have been together since 2011 and married last year.