Thanksgiving Day | Meaning, History, & Facts

Thanksgiving Day: Meaning, History, & Facts

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated annually in the United States and Canada, honoring the harvest and blessings of the past year.

Historical Background

Americans generally believe their Thanksgiving originates from a 1621 harvest feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people.

Thanksgiving is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared between the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims.

In New England and Canada, days of prayer called "thanksgivings" were held to give thanks for safe journeys, military victories, or abundant harvests.

Canadians trace their earliest thanksgiving to 1578, when Martin Frobisher’s expedition expressed gratitude for safe passage.

Modern Celebrations

In the U.S., Thanksgiving is observed on the fourth Thursday of November, following a joint resolution passed by Congress in 1941 and a proclamation by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Since 1957, Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October.

Traditions

In both countries, families and friends gather to share a meal and celebrate together.

Traditional American dishes include turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin pie.

Author's Summary

Thanksgiving is a cultural holiday rooted in early history, celebrated with family gatherings and traditional foods in both the U.S. and Canada, reflecting gratitude for blessings and harvests.

Britannica — 2025-11-03