Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and many are eager to know the exact date. This holiday, filled with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, a delicious turkey feast, quality time with loved ones, football games, and relaxing naps, is a highlight of the year for many. So, what day does Thanksgiving fall on this year?
Thankfully, we have all the information you need regarding Thanksgiving’s date this year. You might be surprised to find out it’s a bit later than usual! We’ll also cover the dates for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, giving you plenty of time to prepare for your holiday shopping. We’ve also included some interesting Thanksgiving trivia to enrich your knowledge of this special day.
Thanksgiving Day 2024: Mark Your Calendars
Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Because November has five weeks, the holiday can land anywhere from November 22nd to November 28th.
In 2024, Thanksgiving Day will be on Thursday, November 28th.
Attention shoppers: This year, the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is shorter, so plan your holiday shopping accordingly!
For reference, Thanksgiving was on November 23rd last year. In 2025, it will be celebrated on Thursday, November 27th.
The Thursday Tradition: Why Thanksgiving Lands on a Thursday
Over two centuries ago, in 1789, President George Washington declared November 26th as a National Day of Thanksgiving.
However, long before that, American colonists had been gathering to celebrate the annual harvest. The first recorded Thanksgiving took place in 1621.
According to the Washington Post, colonists might have started celebrating even earlier, with some historians suggesting a Thanksgiving feast as early as 1565.
While November 26th was initially the date, Abraham Lincoln changed it in 1863 to the last Thursday in November, making it different from fixed-date holidays like Christmas or the Fourth of July.
This continued until 1939 when the last Thursday in November coincided with the month’s last day. This significantly shortened the Christmas shopping season and could have affected the nation’s economic recovery from the Great Depression.
Consequently, in 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed a resolution designating the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving, and that’s how we celebrate it today.
Fun Facts About Thanksgiving
Most people know that the Pilgrims arrived in America on the Mayflower and landed at Plymouth Rock.
However, according to the Boston Globe, the early settlers initially landed along Cape Cod in Provincetown in 1620. After staying for over five weeks, they decided the sandy terrain wasn’t suitable for growing crops and moved on.
The first documented Thanksgiving between settlers and Native Americans occurred a year later. Unlike the elaborate turkey feasts of today, they likely ate venison, goose, duck, fish, and corn porridge.
Wondering which Native American tribe shared that first three-day feast with the early Americans? Curious about how many Pilgrims were at the celebration? You can find the answers to these and other fascinating Thanksgiving trivia questions.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024: Shopping Season is Here!
Now that you know when Thanksgiving is, you’re probably wondering about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so you can get the best deals before they’re gone.
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, falls on Friday, November 29th, in 2024. Cyber Monday follows on Monday, December 2nd, leaving just over three weeks to complete your holiday shopping.
