Copyright Wilmington News Journal
Are you ready for Thanksgiving this year? The turkey, stuffing, green bean cassarole and, of course, pumpkin pie make you think about the fun holiday. But, if you're not ready yet, you still have time. While not the latest possible date for Thanksgiving – which is Nov. 28 – it's still pretty far into the November calender. Here's what you need to know about Thanksgiving. When is Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. This year, Thanksgiving is Nov. 27. When is the latest and earliest Thanksgiving can fall? The latest date Thanksgiving can fall on is Nov. 28, which happened last year. The earliest Halloween can fall on is Nov. 22. The next time we have an early Thanksgiving will be Nov. 22, 2029. The next time we will hit a Nov. 28 Thanksgiving is in 2030. Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving? According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the national holiday began as a celebration of the harvest and other blessings. Thanksgiving, however, has since moved away from its Puritan roots and has become a day to "symbolize intercultural peace, America's opportunity for newcomers, and the sanctity of home and family." Thanksgiving football food: Looking for an easy Thanksgiving meal? Here are some options to go with the NFL games What is the history of Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving folklore dates back to 1621 when the Pilgrims celebrated a harvest feast with the Wampanoag people in Plymouth, Massachusetts. According to History.com, the Pilgrims had a bountiful corn harvest and celebrated with their Native American allies. The celebration lasted three days. During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of Thanksgiving per year. In 1798, George Washington gave the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States; in it, he called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution. However, there wasn't an official day of Thanksgiving in the United States until 1863. At the peak of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln set an official day of Thanksgiving on the final Thursday of November to ask God to heal the nation's wounds. Is Thanksgiving celebrated elsewhere in the world? According to calendardate.com, Thanksgiving is celebrated in the following countries: Canada – second Monday of October Liberia – first Thursday of November Saint Lucia – first Monday in October Grenada – October 25 What is the travel forecast for Thanksgiving? The Thanksgiving holiday is the busiest travel holiday, according to AAA.com. Last year AAA projected 79.9 million people were traveling more than 50 miles from home for the holiday. If you're traveling, the weather will impact travel times and road conditions.
