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Search Britannica Click here to search Search Britannica Click here to search Login Subscribe Now Subscribe Home Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos Thanksgiving Day Table of Contents Thanksgiving Day Table of Contents Introduction & Top Questions References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics Images & Videos For Students Thanksgiving Day summary Quizzes Thanksgiving History Quiz Thanksgiving Quiz Related Questions * How did Thanksgiving start? * When is Thanksgiving? * How did Thanksgiving become a national holiday? Read Next Why Is It Called Black Friday? Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving? Why Is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday? Thanksgiving Day in the United States Timeline of the American Revolution Discover How Did Helen Keller Fly a Plane? How Did the Tradition of Christmas Trees Start? Why Is It Called Black Friday? Titanosaurs: 8 of the World's Biggest Dinosaurs Who Really Invented Baseball? 10 Great Sports Rivalries The Time Julius Caesar Was Captured by Pirates Home Lifestyles & Social Issues Festivals & Holidays History & Society THANKSGIVING DAY holiday Actions Cite Share Give Feedback External Websites Print Cite Share Feedback External Websites Written by David J. Silverman Assistant Professor, Department of History, Wayne State University. David J. Silverman Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Nov 27, 2023 • Article History Table of Contents Jennie Augusta Brownscombe: Thanksgiving at Plymouth See all media Category: History & Society related topics: United States Canada harvest October November (Show more) See all related content → RECENT NEWS Nov. 25, 2023, 12:03 AM ET (AP) Retailers offer bigger Black Friday discounts to lure hesitant shoppers hunting for the best deals Nov. 24, 2023, 12:26 PM ET (AP) Stock market today: Wall Street little changed as trading resumes after Thanksgiving holiday Nov. 23, 2023, 10:04 PM ET (AP) Bland, Prescott help Cowboys to 13th straight home win with 45-10 victory over Commanders Nov. 23, 2023, 5:32 PM ET (AP) Balloons, bands and Santa: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ushers in holiday season in New York Nov. 22, 2023, 11:34 PM ET (AP) Stock market today: Asian shares are mostly lower, with markets in Japan and US closed Show More Show Less Top Questions WHAT IS THANKSGIVING? Thanksgiving is an annual national holiday in the United States and Canada that celebrates the blessings of the past year. HOW DID THANKSGIVING START? Colonists in New England and Canada regularly observed “thanksgivings,” days of prayer for such blessings as safe journeys, military victories, or abundant harvests. Americans model their holiday on a 1621 harvest feast shared between the Wampanoag people and the English colonists known as Pilgrims. Canadians trace their earliest thanksgiving celebration to 1578, when an expedition led by Martin Frobisher gave thanks for its safe passage. WHEN IS THANKSGIVING? In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, as specified in a joint resolution passed by Congress in 1941 and a proclamation issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942. Since 1957, Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated in Canada on the second Monday in October. HOW IS THANKSGIVING CELEBRATED? In both Canada and America, family and friends gather for a meal and other celebrations on Thanksgiving. Traditional fare in America often includes turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. Parades and football games also have long associations with Thanksgiving. HOW DID THANKSGIVING BECOME A NATIONAL HOLIDAY? Sarah Josepha Hale campaigned for a national thanksgiving holiday in the United States during the 19th century, eventually winning President Abraham Lincoln’s support in 1863. He and subsequent presidents proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving annually until 1942, when a presidential proclamation specified that the fourth Thursday in November would be Thanksgiving Day. In Canada, Parliament established a national Thanksgiving Day in 1879. Thanksgiving Day, annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. Americans generally believe that their Thanksgiving is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people. The American holiday is particularly rich in legend and symbolism, and the traditional fare of the Thanksgiving meal typically includes turkey, bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. With respect to vehicular travel, the holiday is often the busiest of the year, as family members gather with one another. Discover why Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving and what the Pilgrims ate with the Wampanoag Learn how turkey became the main dish served at the Thanksgiving meal.(more) See all videos for this article Learn about tryptophan to debunk the myth that eating turkey induces drowsiness on Thanksgiving How chemistry explains tryptophan and debunks the myth that eating turkey (which contains it) induces drowsiness on Thanksgiving.(more) See all videos for this article Plymouth’s Thanksgiving began with a few colonists going out “fowling,” possibly for turkeys but more probably for the easier prey of geese and ducks, since they “in one day killed as much as…served the company almost a week.” Next, 90 or so Wampanoag made a surprise appearance at the settlement’s gate, doubtlessly unnerving the 50 or so colonists. Nevertheless, over the next few days the two groups socialized without incident. The Wampanoag contributed venison to the feast, which included the fowl and probably fish, eels, shellfish, stews, vegetables, and beer. Since Plymouth had few buildings and manufactured goods, most people ate outside while sitting on the ground or on barrels with plates on their laps. The men fired guns, ran races, and drank liquor, struggling to speak in broken English and Wampanoag. This was a rather disorderly affair, but it sealed a treaty between the two groups that lasted until King Philip’s War (1675–76), in which hundreds of colonists and thousands of Native Americans lost their lives. Britannica Quiz Thanksgiving History Quiz On This Day: Thanksgiving On the fourth Thursday of November, many Americans gather around the table with their families and fill their plates with turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing—but why? In this episode of On This Day, Encyclopaedia Britannica's Kurt Heintz explores the true history that lies beneath the myths and mysteries of this American custom (with a few glances at what Canadians do too).(more) See all videos for this article The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating “Thanksgivings,” days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought. The U.S. Continental Congress proclaimed a national Thanksgiving upon the enactment of the Constitution, for example. Yet, after 1798, the new U.S. Congress left Thanksgiving declarations to the states; some objected to the national government’s involvement in a religious observance, Southerners were slow to adopt a New England custom, and others took offense over the day’s being used to hold partisan speeches and parades. A national Thanksgiving Day seemed more like a lightning rod for controversy than a unifying force. When was the first Thanksgiving? Learn more about Thanksgiving.(more) See all videos for this article Thanksgiving Day did not become an official holiday until Northerners dominated the federal government. While sectional tensions prevailed in the mid-19th century, the editor of the popular magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book, Sarah Josepha Hale, campaigned for a national Thanksgiving Day to promote unity. She finally won the support of President Abraham Lincoln. On October 3, 1863, during the Civil War, Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26. The holiday was annually proclaimed by every president thereafter, and the date chosen, with few exceptions, was the last Thursday in November. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, however, attempted to extend the Christmas shopping season, which generally begins with the Thanksgiving holiday, and to boost the economy by moving the date back a week, to the third week in November. But not all states complied, and, after a joint resolution of Congress in 1941, Roosevelt issued a proclamation in 1942 designating the fourth Thursday in November (which is not always the last Thursday) as Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving dinner A Thanksgiving Day dinner.(more) Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade A Mr. Potato Head balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City. (more) As the country became more urban and family members began to live farther apart, Thanksgiving became a time to gather together. The holiday moved away from its religious roots to allow immigrants of every background to participate in a common tradition. Thanksgiving Day football games, beginning with Yale versus Princeton in 1876, enabled fans to add some rowdiness to the holiday. In the late 1800s parades of costumed revelers became common. In 1920 Gimbel’s department store in Philadelphia staged a parade of about 50 people with Santa Claus at the rear of the procession. Since 1924 the annual Macy’s parade in New York City has continued the tradition, with huge balloons since 1927. The holiday associated with Pilgrims and Native Americans has come to symbolize intercultural peace, America’s opportunity for newcomers, and the sanctity of home and family. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now Why is it called Black Friday? Black Friday is the busiest retail day in the United States.(more) See all videos for this article Days of thanksgiving in Canada also originated in the colonial period, arising from the same European traditions, in gratitude for safe journeys, peace, and bountiful harvests. The earliest celebration was held in 1578, when an expedition led by Martin Frobisher held a ceremony in present-day Nunavut to give thanks for the safety of its fleet. In 1879 Parliament established a national Thanksgiving Day on November 6; the date has varied over the years. Since 1957 Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated in Canada on the second Monday in October. David J. Silverman Jamhuri Day Table of Contents Jamhuri Day Table of Contents Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics Related Questions * Why is the Fourth of July celebrated with fireworks? * Should election day be made a national holiday like Independence Day? * How did Thanksgiving start? * When is Thanksgiving? * How did Thanksgiving become a national holiday? Read Next Happy Halloween Why Is Labor Day Celebrated in September? Why Is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday? Columbus Day Thanksgiving Day in the United States Discover Who Really Invented Baseball? 11 Fascinating Nile River Plants and Animals Was Napoleon Short? The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time What’s the Difference Between Llamas and Alpacas? Why Is It Called Black Friday? Why Is Christmas in December? Home Lifestyles & Social Issues Festivals & Holidays History & Society JAMHURI DAY Kenyan holiday Actions Cite Share Give Feedback External Websites Print Cite Share Feedback External Websites Also known as: Independence Day Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Article History Table of Contents Category: History & Society also called: Independence Day (Show more) related topics: Kenya holiday December (Show more) See all related content → Jamhuri Day, one of the most important national holidays in Kenya, observed on December 12. The holiday formally marks the date of the country’s admittance in 1964 into the Commonwealth as a republic and takes its name from the Swahili word jamhuri (“republic”); December 12 is also the date when Kenya obtained its independence from Great Britain in 1963. Under British rule since the late 19th century, Kenya officially became a British colony in 1920. The colonial administration opposed African demands for a greater role in the political process, and it was not until 1944 that an African was included in the colony’s legislature. Disputes over land and cultural traditions continued, however, and the movement against colonial rule grew, culminating in the Mau Mau uprisings in the 1950s, during which the country was plunged into a state of emergency through most of the decade. Africans gained some social and economic concessions as a result of the uprisings, and African political participation increased in the early 1960s. Kenya gained independence on Dec. 12, 1963, and became a republic a year later, with Jomo Kenyatta as its president. Because Jamhuri Day has such historical significance, virtually every Kenyan celebrates the holiday to some extent. Celebrations include feasts, political speeches, parades, and dancing. This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy McKenna. Load Next Page Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Silverman, David J.. "Thanksgiving Day". Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Nov. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thanksgiving-Day. Accessed 28 November 2023. Copy Citation Share Share to social media Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thanksgiving-Day External Websites * World History Encyclopedia - Thanksgiving Day: A Brief History * Live Science - Thanksgiving Science: Why Gratitude Is Good for You * Ancient Origins - American Thanksgiving Origins and Roots in the Old World * Smithsonian - Thanksgiving in North America: From Local Harvests to National Holiday * Mayflower History - Brief History of Thanksgiving * Christianity.com - The Meaning of Thanksgiving Day and History of the Holiday Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. * Thanksgiving - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) * Thanksgiving - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Silverman, David J.. "Thanksgiving Day". Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Nov. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thanksgiving-Day. Accessed 28 November 2023. Copy Citation Share Share to social media Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thanksgiving-Day External Websites * World History Encyclopedia - Thanksgiving Day: A Brief History * Live Science - Thanksgiving Science: Why Gratitude Is Good for You * Ancient Origins - American Thanksgiving Origins and Roots in the Old World * Smithsonian - Thanksgiving in North America: From Local Harvests to National Holiday * Mayflower History - Brief History of Thanksgiving * Christianity.com - The Meaning of Thanksgiving Day and History of the Holiday Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. * Thanksgiving - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) * Thanksgiving - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Update Privacy Preferences Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Jamhuri Day". Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Oct. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jamhuri-Day. Accessed 28 November 2023. Copy Citation Share Share to social media Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jamhuri-Day External Websites * Miami University - Peoples of the World - Jamhuri Day Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. * Jamhuri Day - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Jamhuri Day". Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Oct. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jamhuri-Day. Accessed 28 November 2023. Copy Citation Share Share to social media Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jamhuri-Day External Websites * Miami University - Peoples of the World - Jamhuri Day Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. * Jamhuri Day - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)