Thanksgiving Day, a cherished legal holiday in the United States, is observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November. This special day is dedicated to expressing gratitude for the blessings of the past year. Families and communities come together, transcending religious backgrounds, to commemorate Thanksgiving with joyous feasts and heartfelt traditions.
The Fixed Date of Thanksgiving: The Fourth Thursday in November
So, What Day Is Thanksgiving On? It’s definitively set on the fourth Thursday of November each year. This fixed date ensures that Thanksgiving consistently falls within late November, allowing for predictable planning of celebrations and aligning with the harvest season it historically commemorates. While the specific date changes yearly, the “fourth Thursday” rule provides a clear answer to the question of when to celebrate Thanksgiving.
A Journey Through History: The Origins of Thanksgiving
The roots of American Thanksgiving stretch back almost four centuries to the early days of American colonies. While many cultures around the globe have harvest festivals, the American Thanksgiving’s narrative is uniquely intertwined with the story of the Pilgrims and their experiences in the New World.
From Harvest Celebrations to Pilgrim Gratitude
In 1620, a group of religious separatists, known as the Pilgrims, embarked on a voyage across the Atlantic seeking religious freedom. They settled in present-day Massachusetts. Their initial winter was devastating; arriving too late in the season, they lacked the resources to cultivate sufficient crops. Disease and scarcity led to the death of half the colony.
A Thanksgiving feast featuring turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, carrots, and green beans, showcasing traditional dishes associated with the holiday and answering the question 'What Day is Thanksgiving On?' by illustrating the celebratory meal.
The following spring marked a turning point. The indigenous Iroquois people extended their help, teaching the colonists vital agricultural techniques. They shared knowledge of cultivating corn (maize), a crop previously unknown to the Pilgrims, and introduced them to other crops suited to the unfamiliar soil. They also imparted essential hunting and fishing skills.
By the autumn of 1621, the colonists reaped a bountiful harvest of corn, barley, beans, and pumpkins. Overwhelmed with gratitude for their survival and newfound abundance, they planned a feast to give thanks. They invited Chief Massasoit and ninety of his people to partake in this celebration. The Wampanoag Indians contributed deer to the feast, joining the turkeys and wild game provided by the colonists. From the indigenous people, the colonists also learned to prepare cranberries and various corn and squash dishes. Popcorn, a Native American treat, was even part of this inaugural Thanksgiving gathering.
The Evolution to a National Holiday
In the years that followed, many colonists continued to observe autumn harvest feasts of thanksgiving. After the United States gained independence, Congress advocated for a national day of thanksgiving. George Washington initially proposed November 26th as Thanksgiving Day. However, it was in 1863, amidst the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving. This solidified the annual tradition and largely answers the question of what day is Thanksgiving on in the context we know it today.
Thanksgiving Traditions and Lasting Symbols
Thanksgiving is rich in traditions and symbols that reflect its historical and cultural significance. Families typically gather for a grand feast, featuring iconic dishes like stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Apple cider is a beloved beverage that complements the meal. Beyond the family table, charitable organizations extend the spirit of Thanksgiving by providing meals to those in need. New York City’s Thanksgiving Day parade, featuring the arrival of Santa Claus, marks the unofficial commencement of the Christmas season.
Certain symbols are deeply associated with Thanksgiving, representing the first Thanksgiving and the themes of harvest and gratitude. Turkey, corn (maize), pumpkins, and cranberry sauce are prominent symbols found in holiday decorations and greeting cards. Corn, in particular, symbolizes the survival of the early colonies and, as “Indian corn” decorations, represents the fall harvest season.
Cranberry sauce or jelly, a sweet and tart accompaniment, graced the first Thanksgiving table and remains a staple today. Cranberries, native to Massachusetts and other New England states, were used by Native Americans for both medicinal purposes and as a dye. They taught the colonists to prepare the berries into a sauce. The colonists named them “crane-berries,” inspired by the flower’s resemblance to the long-necked crane bird. Interestingly, even today, cranberries undergo a bounce test to ensure their quality before being packaged and shipped across the country.
In a significant gesture of reconciliation and historical acknowledgement, a special Thanksgiving ceremony was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in 1988. Native Americans from various tribes and descendants of early settlers gathered to publicly recognize the crucial role of Native Americans in the first Thanksgiving. This event served as a reminder that the Thanksgiving feast was initially intended to express gratitude to the indigenous people for their invaluable assistance, without which the early colonists may not have survived. This deeper understanding adds layers to our appreciation of what day is Thanksgiving on and the historical context it embodies.
