Thanksgiving, a cherished holiday for many, often prompts the question: When exactly is it this year? If you’re wondering why Thanksgiving feels a bit later in November this time, you’re not alone. This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 28th. But have you ever stopped to consider why the date shifts each year and why it’s on the 28th this time around?
The Law of the Fourth Thursday
The reason Thanksgiving is on November 28th this year is due to a specific federal law. According to this law, Thanksgiving is officially celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. This consistent rule is why the date appears to change annually, yet always remains anchored to this particular Thursday in November. This wasn’t always the case, and the history behind this fixed date is quite interesting.
A Presidential Proclamation and a Date Shift
While President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, setting it as an annual tradition, the date was initially observed as the last Thursday of November. This meant that in some years, Thanksgiving could fall as late as November 30th.
A significant shift occurred in 1939 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In that year, November had five Thursdays. To stimulate the economy during the Great Depression, Roosevelt decided to move Thanksgiving forward by a week, to the third Thursday. The intention was to lengthen the Christmas shopping season, giving retailers a longer period for holiday sales.
Extending the Shopping Season
Roosevelt’s decision to move Thanksgiving was met with mixed reactions. While the aim was to boost retail sales by providing an earlier start to holiday shopping, it disrupted established holiday schedules, including parades and college football games. Despite the controversy, the change ultimately stuck, solidifying the fourth Thursday of November as the official Thanksgiving date in 1941 through an act of Congress.
So, this year, when you gather for your Thanksgiving feast on November 28th, remember that the date is not arbitrary. It’s the result of a law designed to keep the holiday consistently on the fourth Thursday of November, a date influenced by historical shifts and economic considerations. Whether it’s the earliest possible date of November 22nd or the latest, like the 28th this year, Thanksgiving remains a ثابت day of gratitude and gathering.
SOURCE: Washington Post
