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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a holiday in the United States that many families celebrate with feasting and family.

Upcoming Dates & Where They Are Celebrated

Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. It precedes Black Friday, which is a chaotic time for shopping and sales. Here are the upcoming dates for Thanksgiving:

  • Thursday, November 23, 2017
  • Thursday, November 22, 2018
  • Thursday, November 28, 2019
  • Thursday, November 26, 2020
  • Thursday, November 25, 2021
  • Thursday, November 24, 2022
  • Thursday, November 23, 2023
  • Thursday, November 28, 2024
  • Thursday, November 27, 2025

Where Is Thanksgiving Considered A Holiday?

Thanksgiving is a holiday everywhere in the United States. Most government offices are closed for observation. All schools and most businesses are also closed on Thanksgiving. Public transportation is often run on a holiday schedule, or not at all. Many businesses are closed on the Friday after Thanksgiving as well, providing their employees with a four day weekend. However, before you start planning a holiday trip, you may want to see if you're in one of the areas that allows for a four day weekend!

Festivities & Events During Thanksgiving

There are many areas that protest the idea behind Thanksgiving. There are other areas that don't see Thanksgiving as a reason to celebrate. However, many people have long lost sight of the traditions behind Thanksgiving. Instead, they choose to celebrate the day with family members, both close and extended. They choose to indulge in a turkey based meal and share thanks and appreciation for what they have in their lives. There are Thanksgiving Day parades in some cities. There are also festivals. Many of these festivals largely celebrate the opening of the Christmas shopping season, such as the Macy's Parade.

A Brief History Of Thanksgiving

The origins behind Thanksgiving are simply speculated. Many believe that it had to do with the Pilgrims' harvest in the 1600's. There are many stories about the Pilgrims inviting the Native Americans for dinner. Many Native Americans prefer to celebrate Indian Heritage Day. Many of them also protest Thanksgiving. The first official Thanksgiving was declared by George Washington in 1789.