Thanksgiving Day in United States
Quick Facts
Thanksgiving Day is traditionally a holiday to give thanks for the food that you or your community have at the end of the harvest season.Name
Thanksgiving DayThanksgiving Day 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008Thanksgiving Day 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009See list of observations below
Thanksgiving Day is a federal holiday in the United States. ©iStockphoto.com/ Olga Lyubkina
What do people do?
It is traditional for families and groups of friends to get together for a large meal. This often consists of a turkey, stuffing, different types of potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy and maize and other seasonal vegetables. The meal also often includes pumpkin pie. Many of these foods are native to the Americas and were not available in Europe at the time of the first settlers. This adds to their symbolism of giving thanks for a good harvest in a new country.In some cities and towns, parades are held on Thanksgiving Day. Some are a way of opening the Christmas shopping season. A lot of football games are played and watching them is a popular activity. As many people have a four-day weekend, it is a popular time for making trips, particularly to see out-of-town friends and family.
Public life
Nearly all Government offices, businesses, schools and other organizations are closed on Thanksgiving Day. Many hold a four day weekend and are also closed on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. Public transit systems do not usually operate on their regular timetables.As many families and groups of friends get together for Thanksgiving, it is one of the busiest periods for travel. This can cause congestion and overcrowding. Seasonal parades and busy football games can cause disruption to traffic locally.
Background
There are claims that the first Thanksgiving Day was held in the city of El Paso, Texas in 1598. Another early event was held in 1619 in the Virginia Colony. Many people trace the origins of the modern Thanksgiving Day to the harvest celebration that the Pilgrims held in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. However, their first true thanksgiving was in 1623, when they gave thanks for rain that ended a drought. These early thanksgivings took the form of a special church service, rather than a feast, as is common now.In the second half of the 1600s, thanksgivings after the harvest became more common and started to become annual events. However, it was celebrated on different days in different communities and in some places there were more than one thanksgiving each year. The celebrations often included prayer and fasting and so were quite different to the modern holiday. George Washington, the first president of the United States, proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day in 1789.
Since 1863, Thanksgiving Day has been an annual holiday in the United States. A more recent tradition started in 1947. Since then, the president has been presented with a live turkey, which he 'pardons'. The turkey then spends the rest of its life peacefully on a farm.
Not everyone sees Thanksgiving Day as a cause for celebration. The European settlers had a massive destructive effect on the Native American peoples and their culture. Each year since 1970, a group of Native Americans and their supporters have staged a protest for a National Day of Mourning at Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts on Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving Day Observances
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | Nov 27 | 1980 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 26 | 1981 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 25 | 1982 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 24 | 1983 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 22 | 1984 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 28 | 1985 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 27 | 1986 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 26 | 1987 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 24 | 1988 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 23 | 1989 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 22 | 1990 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 28 | 1991 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 26 | 1992 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 25 | 1993 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 24 | 1994 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 23 | 1995 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 28 | 1996 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 27 | 1997 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 26 | 1998 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 25 | 1999 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 23 | 2000 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 22 | 2001 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 28 | 2002 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 27 | 2003 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 25 | 2004 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 24 | 2005 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 23 | 2006 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 22 | 2007 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 27 | 2008 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 26 | 2009 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 25 | 2010 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 24 | 2011 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 22 | 2012 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 28 | 2013 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 27 | 2014 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Nov 26 | 2015 | Thanksgiving Day | National holiday |
Other holidays in November 2008 in United States
- All Saints (Saturday, November 1, 2008)
- Daylight Saving Time ends (Sunday, November 2, 2008)
- Election Day (Tuesday, November 4, 2008)
- Veterans Day (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
- Black Friday (Friday, November 28, 2008)
- First Sunday Advent (Sunday, November 30, 2008)
Other calendars
- Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
- Perpetual monthly calendar - shows only one month at a time
- Custom calendar - make customized calendars
