Thanksgiving: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about Thanksgiving (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. Thanksgiving is celebrated on November 23rd.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of Thanksgiving, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as amusing facts you might want to know about Thanksgiving.

📅 What day is Thanksgiving 2024?

In 2024, Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 23rd. It is the 4th Thursday in November; in 2024, it is Saturday. There are until the next observance. You also can explore all the exciting details and facts about November 23, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday in America that has a long history dating back to the 1500s. It gained mythological significance in 1621 and has been observed even during the Civil War. It is now celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year, with November 24, 2022 being the next date. Thanksgiving is a special day that brings together family, friends, and delicious food, as well as football. Unlike other celebrations, it doesn’t have a tradition of exchanging gifts. Instead, it encourages people to appreciate and be thankful for what they have.

📜 Thanksgiving History

This story doesn’t always start with pilgrims. There is evidence that Thanksgiving celebrations were held by Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida and New Mexico in the late 1500s. Virginia also had Thanksgiving celebrations as early as 1607. The Pilgrims, who arrived in the New World in 1620, had their first Thanksgiving in 1621 after a successful harvest. Thanksgiving celebrations were later designated by the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War and eventually became a national holiday. President Lincoln declared a national Thanksgiving Day in 1863, and future presidents followed his lead by designating the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving. In 1939, President Roosevelt changed the date to the fourth Thursday to give merchants more time to sell before Christmas. A law passed in 1942 established the fourth Thursday of November as a federal holiday.

✅ Thanksgiving Facts

🔖 A lot of calories are consumed
On average, people consume 4,500 calories during the Thanksgiving holiday.

🔖 You can celebrate Thanksgiving 17th-century style
If you’re interested in reliving the original Thanksgiving celebrations from the 1600s, you can visit a preserved section of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Tickets to partake in this authentic experience need to be bought several months ahead of time.

🔖 Four towns named ‘Turkey’
In the United States, there are four towns named Turkey, which can be found in Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, and Louisiana.

👍 Why Is Thanksgiving Important

Thanksgiving dinners typically include turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, buttered vegetables, warm pumpkin pie, and other decadent foods. But, to be honest, everything goes. Veganism is also acceptable.

Thanksgiving is a holiday during which friends and family gather to show their thanks. For some, it’s an opportunity to spend time with family members they don’t see very frequently. Others use it to gather all of their friends (Friendsgiving!) for food and fun.

Americans look forward to their long holiday weekend, which begins just after Halloween. Thanksgiving Day kicks off a brief work/school break that includes Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.

🙂 How To Observe Thanksgiving

⚡ Start a take-out tradition
Preparing a Thanksgiving feast can be a time-consuming process that takes several hours. Thankfully, there are numerous places that offer ready-made Thanksgiving meals for those who prefer not to cook. However, if you want to start a new tradition, you can opt for takeout instead. Whether it’s ordering from a nearby Chinese restaurant, trying some Indian cuisine, or even getting your favorite pizza, the options are endless. Just remember to show gratitude by tipping generously. After all, Thanksgiving is a day to express appreciation.

⚡ Volunteer
Encourage your family to come together and contribute to the community by volunteering at a nearby shelter. Afterward, enjoy a cozy, satisfying meal at home. This is an excellent opportunity to support those in need and involve the whole family in giving back.

⚡ Bake a pie
Pies are a classic part of Thanksgiving meals, with popular options like pecan, pumpkin, apple, or cherry. To begin baking, remember to preheat the oven, put on an apron, and start preparing your delicious pie.

📅 When is Thanksgiving?

View all 🔗 November holidays, including 🔗 Federal and other 🔗 Cooking holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and must-know facts about Thanksgiving. So be sure to check back soon.