Thanksgiving 2025: Date, History, and Significance
Thanksgiving in 2025 will be celebrated on Thursday, November 27. This traditional American holiday is known for turkey feasts, football games, and expressing gratitude for the past year. Yet, its roots and meaning reach far deeper than these modern customs.
Origins and Historical Background
Thanksgiving began as a harvest festival, originally a time to give thanks for food and survival. Its history dates back over 400 years to 1621, when Pilgrims held a harvest celebration in Plymouth, Massachusetts, according to Britannica. By the late 1600s, yearly days of thanks were common in New England communities.
"Many people trace the origins of Thanksgiving all the way back to 1621, to the harvest celebration the Pilgrims held in Plymouth, Massachusetts."
Establishment as a National Holiday
While George Washington proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving in 1789, the holiday was not fixed on the calendar until Abraham Lincoln declared it official in 1863. Today, Thanksgiving always occurs on the fourth Thursday of November.
"George Washington called for a national Thanksgiving in 1789, but it was not until Abraham Lincoln made it official in 1863 that the day found its place on the national calendar."
Date Variations and Related Events
- Thanksgiving can fall between November 22 and November 28, depending on the calendar year.
- In 2025, Thanksgiving is on November 27.
- The day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, marking the unofficial start of the U.S. holiday shopping season.
"Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday of November - it is never a fixed date."
Modern Meaning and Traditions
Beyond its origins as a harvest celebration, Thanksgiving now focuses on gathering loved ones and sharing a meal, strengthening bonds between family, friends, and neighbors.
"Thanksgiving is, at heart, a harvest holiday. It began as a moment to give thanks for food and survival, but today it is more about gathering - family, friends, neighbors - and pausing for a shared meal."
Author's summary: Thanksgiving, rooted in a 1621 harvest feast, evolved into a national holiday celebrating gratitude, family bonds, and shared meals every fourth Thursday of November.
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