Thanksgiving will fall on November 27 this year, marking the second-latest possible date for the holiday. The latest Thanksgiving can occur is November 28, which will happen in 2024. The earliest date for Thanksgiving, November 22, has not been observed since 2018 and will not occur again until 2029.
The shifting date of Thanksgiving raises questions for many. Unlike holidays that are fixed on specific dates, Thanksgiving’s timing is influenced by the calendar itself. The holiday, celebrated in the United States since 1789, was first proclaimed by President George Washington as a “Day of Publick Thanksgiving,” which fell on November 26 that year, according to The Center for Legislative Archives.
Historical Context of Thanksgiving Dates
For several decades, U.S. Presidents issued Thanksgiving proclamations, but the dates varied widely. Notably, President James Madison declared Thanksgiving on September 9 in 1813 and on March 16 in 1815. It was not until 1863, under President Abraham Lincoln, that Thanksgiving was standardized to the last Thursday of November.
An exception occurred in 1865 when President Andrew Johnson missed issuing a proclamation and had to set Thanksgiving for the first Thursday in December. This inconsistency continued until 1939, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the second-to-last Thursday in November, concerned that a late Thanksgiving would shorten the Christmas shopping season during the Great Depression.
This change led to confusion, as 32 states adopted the new date while 16 others remained with the traditional last Thursday. The issue was finally resolved in 1941 when Congress officially designated Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November.
Looking Ahead to Thanksgiving 2025
The upcoming Thanksgiving celebration on November 27 will see various traditions, including family gatherings and festive meals. In anticipation of the holiday, businesses are already promoting special offerings, such as $25 Thanksgiving dinners for families of five, making the holiday more accessible.
Next year, Thanksgiving will arrive slightly earlier on November 26, providing another opportunity for families to plan their celebrations. The ongoing evolution of Thanksgiving dates reflects both historical decisions and modern consumer needs, making it a unique aspect of American culture.