Thanksgiving is considered as the start of the holiday season in the US with millions of Americans gearing up to mark the festival with lavish feasts and celebratory gatherings.
The festival, which originated as a harvest festival in early colonial America, symbolising gratitude and cooperation, eventually evolved into a national holiday dedicated to celebrating blessings, unity, and family in the country.
This year, Thanksgiving will be celebrated on November 27, the fourth Thursday of November. But unlike, Christmas or Valentine’s Day, the date Thanksgiving falls on changes each year. Let’s find out why.
Why is Thanksgiving celebrated on 4th Thursday of November?
In 1789, US’ first President, George Washington, declared Thursday, November 26 a ‘Day of Public Thanksgiving’, after he was asked by the first Federal Congress, according to the National Archives.
It was the first time Thanksgiving was celebrated under the country’s new Constitution.
After Washington, several other Presidents also issued Thanksgiving proclamations, but the months and days Thanksgiving was celebrated varied.
However, it was President Abraham Lincoln, who during the Civil War in 1863, proclaimed that Thanksgiving as a national holiday was to be observed annually on the last Thursday of November, aiming to unite a divided nation.
US Congress passed a joint resolution
Several discussions later, in 1941, the House of Representatives passed a joint resolution declaring Thanksgiving Day to be the last Thursday in November.
The Senate amended the resolution, making the holiday the fourth Thursday in November, and Roosevelt signed it in December 1941.
Thanksgiving: How has the tradition changed today?
Thanksgiving traditions have evolved significantly in recent years, blending longstanding customs with fresh, modern practices.
While the traditional feast of turkey stuffing, and pumpkin pie remains central, new ways to celebrate gratitude and togetherness are gaining popularity in 2025.
Concepts like the ‘Gratitude Jar 2.0’ and ‘Thankful Treks’, involving eco-friendly seed paper for gratitude notes and outdoor hikes or scavenger hunts to share thanks before meals, are part of a broader trend to blend reflection, health, and environmental consciousness in Thanksgiving celebrations, according to the Pioneer Woman.