When is Thanksgiving Day?

Why do we observe it?

The national holiday developed from varied harvest traditions and presidential proclamations; its historical narratives should include Native American perspectives.

Traditions and celebrations

Family meals, community events and volunteering are common.

Planning tips

Plan travel early, confirm grocery hours and consider food-bank volunteer needs.

Is it a federal holiday?

Yes. It is one of the U.S. federal holidays, though schedules for private employers, schools and states can differ.

Is it a bank holiday? What’s open and closed

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, so banks, the stock market, the post office and most government offices close nationwide, and many businesses also close for the Friday after. Individual banks, school districts and employers can still make their own call, so confirm directly if a closure affects an important errand or appointment.

The history behind the day

Thanksgiving’s popular origin story traces to a 1621 harvest celebration shared by Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people, though the holiday as celebrated today owes more to 19th-century efforts to formalize it. Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, campaigned for decades for a national Thanksgiving before President Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday in 1863, during the Civil War, as a unifying gesture.

The date shifted in 1939 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it a week earlier to extend the Christmas shopping season during the Depression, a controversial change some states initially refused to follow. Congress settled the date permanently as the fourth Thursday in November in 1941.

How it’s marked across the country

Turkey dinners, family gatherings, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (running since 1924), and NFL football are the defining American traditions. The day after, Black Friday, has become the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season.

One thing you might not know

Turkey wasn’t necessarily on the menu at the original 1621 gathering — the only surviving written account mentions deer and wildfowl, with turkey’s centrality coming later in the holiday’s mythology.

How the fourth Thursday became the rule

Thanksgiving has a longer and more complicated history than a single 1621 meal. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving in 1863. After the date varied during the twentieth century, Congress and President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the fourth Thursday of November in 1941.

The familiar “first Thanksgiving” story often leaves out Wampanoag people and later colonial violence. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian offers Native perspectives and resources for learning about the history with more care.

Plan a gathering without the rush

Four to six weeks ahead, settle travel and lodging. Two weeks ahead, confirm the guest count, dietary needs and who is bringing each dish. A few days ahead, check safe thawing and cooking guidance for perishable food and review grocery hours.

If the day is quieter, a shared meal, community event, volunteering or personal reflection can all be meaningful. Many public offices close Thursday; Friday schedules vary by state and employer.

Thanksgiving planning checklist

• Four to six weeks ahead: book long-distance travel and confirm overnight arrangements.
• Two weeks ahead: settle the guest count, dietary needs and shared dishes.
• Three to five days ahead: check food-safety timing, grocery hours, weather and traffic.
• The day before: confirm arrival times and any pickup, transit or parking changes.