Why Is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday?

Emma | 11 - 24 - 2020
Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday

Thanksgiving is a big fiesta – it involves turkey stuffing, smoked chicken, pumpkin pie and many playful games. It is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. No one know the exact date of thanksgiving

Has Thanksgiving Always Been on the Fourth Thursday?

By federal law, Americans have celebrated Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November since 1942, but numerous other dates were designated in the past.

Who Decided Thanksgiving Would Be on Thursday?
  • A. President Washington
  • B. President Barack Obama
  • C. President Abraham Lincoln
  • D. None of the above

The first thanksgiving brought together 53 pilgrims and about 90 Native Americans, which occurred in the fall of 1621. Nobody knew the date of the Thanksgiving celebration back then. It was not a single day meal but a three-day meal celebration. And it was celebrated in mid-October not November.

At the beginning of 1668, the holiday was celebrated on November 25th but that lasted for only a few years.

In 1789, Thanksgiving was held on Thursdays in November. President George Washington’s presidency announced it as public thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26th. Washington declared a day of thanksgiving and prayer in 1789, partly to honor the new U.S Constitution.

And in the year 1939, some Americans had the option of celebrating this public thanksgiving on two totally different dates. This is because that specific year had five Thursdays in the month of November. But after some problems with the retailers, it finally settled by Congress when they passed a law in December 1941 that made Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday of November.

Here is the list of best Thanksgiving movies to watch with your family and make your holiday night more special and memorable

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