Thanksgiving is a beloved American holiday, but its date on the fourth Thursday of November wasn’t always a rule. The journey to this specific day involves presidential proclamations, Civil War turmoil, and even economic pressure from the Great Depression. Understanding how the Thanksgiving date changed reveals a fascinating part of American history, shaped by leaders aiming for unity and economic recovery.
The First Thanksgiving: A Harvest Feast
The story of Thanksgiving begins in the autumn of 1621. After their first successful corn harvest, the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony shared a three-day feast with the Wampanoag people. This event is widely considered the origin of the American Thanksgiving tradition.
However, this was not an annual celebration. It was a one-time event to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and survival. The idea of a regular, national day of thanks would not emerge for more than 150 years.
From a Presidential Idea to a National Tradition
The first national proclamation for a day of thanksgiving came from President George Washington. In 1789, he declared November 26 as a day for all Americans to express gratitude for the end of the Revolutionary War and the successful establishment of a new nation.
Even with Washington’s proclamation, the date was not permanent. For many decades, celebrating a day of thanks was inconsistent. Some presidents declared days of thanksgiving, while others did not. The specific date often varied from state to state, lacking the national unity we know today.
It was President Abraham Lincoln who took the most significant step in formalizing the holiday. In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November as a national Thanksgiving Day. His goal was to help heal a divided nation and bring a sense of shared tradition to the country during one of its darkest periods. This set a precedent that would last for nearly 80 years.
Roosevelt’s Controversial Date Change
The tradition established by Lincoln was challenged during the Great Depression. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to move Thanksgiving from the last Thursday of November to the third Thursday.
The reason for this change was purely economic. Retailers had lobbied the president, arguing that an earlier Thanksgiving would create a longer Christmas shopping season. They believed this extension would provide a much-needed boost to the economy, which was still recovering from years of hardship.
However, the change was not popular with everyone. The move created a national divide, with many people angry about the break from tradition. This led to a period of confusion where different states celebrated on different days.
- About half of the states adopted Roosevelt’s new date, which critics mockingly called “Franksgiving.”
- The other half stuck with Lincoln’s traditional date, sometimes referred to as “Republican Thanksgiving.”
- For two years, American families sometimes celebrated the holiday a week apart depending on where they lived.
This split highlighted just how deeply the holiday was woven into the fabric of American life and how resistant people were to changing a cherished tradition.
Congress Steps in to Settle the Debate
To end the confusion and controversy, Congress took action. In 1941, both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed a joint resolution to officially establish a fixed date for the holiday.
President Roosevelt signed the resolution into law, officially declaring the fourth Thursday in November as the federal Thanksgiving Day holiday. This law ensured that all Americans would celebrate on the same day, restoring the holiday’s role as a unifying national event. This decision remains in effect today.
A Timeline of Thanksgiving’s Date
The evolution of Thanksgiving’s date can be confusing. Here is a simple table to show the key moments in its history.
| Year | Key Event | Date or Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| 1621 | Pilgrims’ Harvest Feast | Autumn |
| 1789 | George Washington’s Proclamation | November 26th |
| 1863 | Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation | Last Thursday of November |
| 1941 | U.S. Congress Official Declaration | Fourth Thursday of November |
The Lasting Impact of a Shifting Holiday
Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated consistently across the United States on the fourth Thursday of November. While the date is now settled, the economic influence that prompted Roosevelt’s controversial change is more powerful than ever.
The day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, has become the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. It is one of the busiest retail days of the year, a direct legacy of the push to extend the shopping period in the 1930s.
The essence of the holiday remains focused on gratitude, family, and food. From parades and football games to quiet family dinners, the traditions continue to evolve, but the core values established centuries ago endure.
Frequently Asked Questions about Thanksgiving’s History
Why did President Roosevelt change the date of Thanksgiving?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving a week earlier in 1939 to extend the Christmas shopping season. Retailers hoped this would boost sales and help the economy during the Great Depression.
Who officially made Thanksgiving a national holiday?
While Abraham Lincoln established it as a national tradition in 1863, it was Congress in 1941 that passed a law officially making the fourth Thursday of November the federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.
When was the first Thanksgiving celebrated?
The first Thanksgiving is widely considered to be the three-day harvest feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in the fall of 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Did all states agree with Roosevelt’s Thanksgiving date change?
No, the country was split. About half the states adopted the new, earlier date, while the other half continued to celebrate on the traditional last Thursday of November, leading to national confusion for two years.
Is Thanksgiving celebrated on the same date in other countries?
Thanksgiving is primarily an American holiday. Other countries, like Canada, have their own Thanksgiving celebrations, but they occur on different dates and have different historical origins. Canadian Thanksgiving, for example, is celebrated on the second Monday in October.
