What US Thanksgiving is

Fixed as the fourth Thursday in November by Congress in 1941, having been set by presidential proclamation since Lincoln. Canada keeps its own Thanksgiving in October.

It generates the busiest travel period of the American year.

When it falls, and why the date moves

The countdown at the top of this page is live, and the date beneath it is the next occurrence. The date is set by a weekday rule rather than a fixed number, so it lands on a different date each year within a known window.

It is grouped here under National, alongside the other observances that share its calendar.

What is coming up next

Once this date passes, the countdown moves on according to the recurrence rule described above. Calculated lunar dates remain estimates until the relevant calendar or local authority confirms them. See the full list of upcoming events, or use the countdown timer for a duration of your own.