| Thanksgiving | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | United States |
| Type | Federal holiday |
| Date | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Scheduling | Varies (fourth Thursday) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Celebrates | Giving thanks, harvest, and blessings of the past year |
Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States, celebrated on the **fourth Thursday of November**. It is a day for Americans to give thanks for the harvest, blessings, and community, often marked by gatherings, feasts, and reflection.
Origins
Thanksgiving traces its origins to 1621, when Pilgrims and Wampanoag Native Americans shared a harvest feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Although harvest festivals were common, this event became a cultural touchstone for American tradition.
In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise."
Modern Traditions
Thanksgiving today is celebrated with:
- Family and friends gathering for a large meal
- Traditional foods such as:
- Roast turkey - Stuffing - Mashed potatoes - Cranberry sauce - Pumpkin pie
- Televised parades, including:
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City
- NFL football games
- Volunteering and charitable donations
- Expressions of gratitude and reflection
National Recognition
Thanksgiving became a federal holiday in 1941, when Congress set the official date as the fourth Thursday in November.
Related Observances
- Black Friday – Major shopping day following Thanksgiving
- Friendsgiving – Informal gatherings with friends, often before or after the holiday
- National Day of Mourning – Held by some Indigenous communities to reflect on colonization and loss
Fun Facts
- The average American consumes over 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day
- The presidential turkey pardon is a lighthearted tradition where the President spares a live turkey from being eaten
- Over 46 million turkeys are consumed each Thanksgiving