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Thanksgiving Day

Federal holiday · Food · The fourth Thursday in November

Thanksgiving Day is the US federal holiday on the fourth Thursday in November, marked with a shared meal, family, friends and giving thanks.

Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. That is 30 days away.

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the United States, held on the fourth Thursday in November. At its center is a long meal shared with family or friends, and a pause to say what you are grateful for.

The table tends to look familiar from house to house. Roast turkey is the usual centerpiece, joined by stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and green beans. Pie closes things out, most often pumpkin, apple or pecan. Every family also has the one dish nobody else makes, and it is usually the one people ask about first.

The day has a rhythm. Cooking often starts early, sometimes the night before, and kitchens get crowded. Many households watch a parade in the morning or football in the afternoon. Others take a walk between dinner and dessert, which helps make room for pie.

Because it is a federal holiday, many schools, offices and government services close, and a lot of people travel to be with relatives. Plenty of gatherings are not family at all. Friends who live far from home often hold their own dinner, each guest bringing a dish.

Leftovers carry the holiday into the weekend. A cold turkey sandwich with a spoonful of cranberry sauce is, for many people, the best meal of the whole stretch.

Ways to celebrate

• Ask everyone at the table to name one thing they are thankful for.
• Cook a family recipe and write down how you make it.
• Invite a friend or neighbor who would otherwise eat alone.
• Take a walk outside between dinner and dessert.
• Write a short thank-you note to someone who helped you this year.

Things for the day

• Thanksgiving table decor
• Serving dishes

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Dates

All national days on November 26

Also on November 26

• National Cake Day
• Good Grief Day

Categories: Federal holidaysFood daysFamily days