Why Thanksgiving Can Never Be on November 29 or 30
In the United States, Thanksgiving Day by law cannot fall later than November 28. This year, households nationwide will celebrate it on Thursday in November.
The Date of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November, a tradition established by Congress more than eighty years ago. This means the holiday always occurs between November 22 and November 28.
Origins and Historical Dates
The holiday traces its roots back to a 1621 harvest celebration by English colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans in present-day Massachusetts. However, Thanksgiving did not always follow the modern fixed schedule.
George Washington proclaimed Thursday, November 26, 1789, as a “Day of Publick Thanksgivin.”
Despite this, the date varied in subsequent years and even across different months.
Establishing the Final Thursday
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln set Thanksgiving as the final Thursday of November. Since November can sometimes have five Thursdays, this allowed the holiday to fall as late as November 30 in theory.
Clarification on Late November Dates
However, the current law ensures Thanksgiving does not occur later than November 28, preventing celebrations on November 29 or 30.
Thanksgiving is a chance for Americans to “express gratitude for the good things in life.”
Author’s Summary
Thanksgiving is fixed on the fourth Thursday of November, ensuring the holiday never falls beyond November 28, preserving its timing and tradition.