Thanksgiving 2025: Date and Key Information

Bassyonni

ago 8 hours

The cost of Thanksgiving dinner has been declining for two consecutive years, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. While many people are already looking forward to the holiday season, Thanksgiving is fast approaching. This holiday often includes a four-day weekend filled with family gatherings, football, and traditional festivities.

Thanksgiving 2025: Date and Key Information

Thanksgiving will be observed on Thursday, November 27, 2025. The holiday is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. As both a state and federal holiday, banks and government offices will be closed, and there will be no mail delivery in Michigan. However, some stores, particularly grocery stores, may remain open.

Thanksgiving History and Significance

Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation to unify a divided nation during the Civil War. This tradition was rooted in earlier proclamations, notably by George Washington in 1789. While earlier presidents did not continue the tradition, Washington’s initial declaration influenced Lincoln’s celebration.

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially fixed Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday of November, with the hope of boosting retail sales during the Great Depression.

Origins of the Holiday

The first Thanksgiving is believed to have occurred in 1621, where the Pilgrims reportedly shared a meal with the Wampanoag people. This historical narrative, often told from a European perspective, has been critiqued for oversimplification. Although the gathering has been romantically depicted, accounts suggest that the Wampanoag were initially wary and approached the celebration prepared for conflict.