Thanksgiving will fall on November 27 this year, marking the second-latest date possible for the holiday. The latest Thanksgiving occurred in 2024, landing on November 28. In contrast, the earliest Thanksgiving can occur is November 22, a date that has not been seen since 2018 and will not recur until 2029.
Understanding the shifting date of Thanksgiving can be puzzling. Like holidays such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, Thanksgiving’s timing is influenced by the calendar rather than the holiday itself. The United States has celebrated Thanksgiving since 1789, when President George Washington issued the first proclamation, designating November 26 as a “Day of Publick Thanksgiving,” according to The Center for Legislative Archives.
Historical Changes and Presidential Proclamations
For the following seventy years, presidents continued to issue Thanksgiving proclamations, yet the dates varied significantly. The Library of Congress notes that President James Madison proclaimed Thanksgiving on September 9 in 1813 and again on March 16 in 1815.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln established a more consistent approach by declaring Thanksgiving would be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. There was an exception in 1865 when President Andrew Johnson reportedly forgot to issue his proclamation and had to schedule it for the first Thursday of December that year.
Thanksgiving maintained its place on the final Thursday in November for several decades until 1939. That year, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made the controversial decision to move the holiday to the second-to-last Thursday of November. His concern was that Thanksgiving, falling on November 30, would shorten the Christmas shopping season during a time when the nation was still grappling with the effects of the Great Depression.
Although 32 states complied with Roosevelt’s proclamation, 16 states opted to keep Thanksgiving on its traditional date. This division led to confusion and debate over the holiday’s timing, prompting Congress to step in. In 1941, lawmakers officially designated Thanksgiving as occurring on the fourth Thursday of November, a decision that has remained unchanged.
Next year, Thanksgiving will arrive slightly earlier, on November 26, continuing a long-standing tradition that has adapted over time. This year’s Thanksgiving date may feel particularly distant for those eagerly anticipating the holiday, but it serves as a reminder of the rich history and evolving nature of this cherished celebration.
