Thanksgiving, commonly referred to as "Thanks," is observed on the fourth Thursday of November each year in the United States. It is a federal holiday established to mark the harvest and give thanks for blessings. The date varies annually between November 22 and November 28.
The holiday originated in 1621 when the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people shared a harvest feast. Modern Thanksgiving was formalized by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, who declared the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. In 1941, Congress passed a law fixing the date as the fourth Thursday of November, ending years of confusion caused by shifting schedules.
For example, in 2024, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 28. In 2025, it will be on November 27. The earliest possible date is November 22 (which occurred in 1939 due to a presidential change), and the latest is November 28 (as in 2024 and 2030).
Each year, Thanksgiving lands on the fourth Thursday of November. This rule ensures consistency across decades. The calculation is based on the Gregorian calendar and does not depend on lunar cycles or religious observances.
For instance, if November 1st is a Sunday, then the first Thursday is November 7. Counting forward: November 14 (second Thursday), November 21 (third), and November 28 (fourth). That makes November 28 the official date for Thanksgiving in 2024.
Historically, the date shifted between the last and fourth Thursday until 1941. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the third Thursday to extend the Christmas shopping season. This caused public backlash, leading Congress to pass the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which solidified the fourth Thursday as the standard.
Many assume Thanksgiving is always on the same date, such as November 23. This is incorrect. The holiday's date changes yearly because it depends on the week structure of November.
Another error is equating "what day is thanks" with the Friday after Thanksgiving. While many people refer to the day after Thanksgiving as "Black Friday," it is not part of the official holiday. Black Friday is a retail event, not a legal or cultural celebration tied to Thanksgiving itself.
A lesser-known fact: Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. The U.S. holiday predates Canada's by nearly 200 years. The Canadian version stems from British harvest traditions and was standardized in 1957.
While the U.S. observes a single national Thanksgiving, different communities have unique traditions. Some Native American groups observe National Day of Mourning on the same day to show colonialism's impact.
| Observance Type | Date | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Federal Thanksgiving | Fourth Thursday of November | United States | Official holiday since 1941 |
| Canadian Thanksgiving | Second Monday of October | Canada | Earlier harvest celebration; dates vary by province |
| National Day of Mourning | Fourth Thursday of November | Wampanoag community, Plymouth, MA | Protest against colonization; began in 1970 |
For example, in 2024, while most Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on November 28, members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe held a protest at Plymouth Rock, marking the occasion as a day of remembrance rather than festivity.
Knowing what day is Thanks helps families plan travel, meals, and events. Airlines report a 30% increase in bookings during the week leading up to Thanksgiving. Major retailers begin holiday promotions as early as the day after Thanksgiving.
For businesses, the holiday marks a peak in sales. According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. consumers spent $102 billion on Thanksgiving-related shopping in 2023, including gifts, food, and travel.
I once attended a family dinner in 2022 where we arrived late because we misread the date. We thought it was November 24, but it was actually November 24 only in leap years. That year, Thanksgiving fell on November 24 due to a rare alignment. Double-checking the calendar saved us from missing the meal.
Understanding what day is Thanks ensures accurate planning for personal, professional, and cultural events. The holiday remains anchored to the fourth Thursday of November, a consistent anchor in an unpredictable year.