Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the fourth Thursday of November; in 2026, it falls on November 26. Its commonly told origin story connects the holiday to a 1621 harvest gathering at Plymouth Colony, where English colonists and members of the Wampanoag Confederacy shared food and diplomacy. However, historians emphasize that this event was not the single beginning of modern Thanksgiving, and that Indigenous peoples had long practiced ceremonies of gratitude and harvest observances before European colonization.

The holiday developed gradually through colonial and early American traditions of designated days of thanksgiving. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving observance in 1863 during the Civil War, helping establish the annual November celebration later formalized by Congress in 1941. Today, Thanksgiving combines historical memory, family reunion, seasonal reflection, and expressions of gratitude, while also prompting public discussion of colonization, Indigenous history, and the complex legacy of the 1621 encounter.

Thanksgiving is typically celebrated with a large meal shared by family and friends. Common dishes include roast turkey, stuffing or dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, green-bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cornbread, and pumpkin or pecan pie. Regional menus may feature foods such as oysters, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, tamales, or seafood. Many people travel long distances for reunions, offer prayers or words of gratitude before eating, and say "Happy Thanksgiving" as the standard greeting.

Popular public traditions include the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, televised football games, community food drives, charitable volunteering, and local turkey trots. Families may watch parades and sports, play board games, exchange personal reflections, or begin preparations for the winter holiday season. Some communities and Indigenous organizations mark the day through education, remembrance, or observances such as the National Day of Mourning in Plymouth, Massachusetts, which highlights Native perspectives on the history associated with Thanksgiving.