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Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, has a rich history filled with interesting facts and traditions. In 2025, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 27. The holiday has been observed on the fourth Thursday since 1941, thanks to a law passed by Congress to standardize the date.
Thanksgiving's origins date back to the early 1600s when settlers in Massachusetts and Virginia held feasts to express gratitude for survival and successful harvests. The most famous of these is the 1621 feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe, which is often considered the "first" Thanksgiving, although it was not a formal holiday at the time.
Today, Thanksgiving is synonymous with a bountiful feast, typically featuring turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pies. Interestingly, turkey was once a rare treat, with an 8- to 10-pound bird costing a day's wages in the 1830s. Over 90% of Americans now enjoy turkey on Thanksgiving, and the tradition of pardoning a turkey by the President of the United States is a well-known aspect of the holiday.
Thanksgiving also marks the beginning of the holiday season, leading into the shopping frenzy known as Black Friday. This tradition began when President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving to the third Thursday in November in 1939 to extend the shopping season, a decision that was later reversed due to public discontent.
Aside from feasting, Thanksgiving traditions include watching football games, participating in turkey trots, and viewing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Many families also take the opportunity to volunteer and help those in need.
For those interested in the historical context, Thanksgiving was first proclaimed a national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the Civil War, as a day to express gratitude and unity. Prior to this, Thanksgiving celebrations varied by state and were not federally recognized.