*** Thanksgiving Day *** Thursday, Nov 28, 2024 in the US

Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday in the United States celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the US and on the second Monday of October in Canada. Thanksgiving has deep roots in religious tradition, but nowadays it is primarily celebrated as a secular holiday.

Thanksgiving tradition began in the early 1700s, but the date and popularity varied between states. The first nation-wide Thanksgiving was proclaimed on November 26, 1789 by George Washington. The contemporary date of fourth Thursday of November was set in 1941 by federal legislation.

Thanksgiving Celebration

Thanksgiving is a great time to be thankful and appreciate who you have and what you have. It is a time for families to meet, socialize, and enjoy each other's company usually over turkey dinner with pumpkin pie.

Thanksgiving Date

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed national Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated on the final Thursday of November, which rule was followed until 1939 when President Franklin D Roosevelt declared the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving instead. The change of Thanksgiving's date was intended to extend the shopping season before Christmas and help bring the country out of The Great Depression.

Date: Thursday, November 26th, 2026

Categories: Holiday / Observance