The greatest months of the entire year are upon us, folks. The “beers” are the greatest because not only does the weather get cooler and it no longer feels like you’re living in Satan’s armpit if you venture outside (if you live in the South), but it’s time for the holidays as well. It starts with trick-or-treating fun in October, family gatherings, delicious food, and a time for giving thanks in November, and spending even more time with family, sharing delicious food, and trading gifts in December. We all know Christmas is always on the 25th and Halloween on the 31st, but what date is Thanksgiving in 2022? It changes every year, so we need to know when to start preordering those turkeys and creating those invites for the family to come over to share food and company.
What date is Thanksgiving 2022?
Thanksgiving is always observed on the final Thursday of November, or the fourth Thursday in the United States (the second Monday of October in Canada). Thus, if you live in the United States, Thanksgiving Day in 2022 falls on November 24. Why, then, does it always occur on the final Thursday in November? Who chose this time? We’ve all heard the tale of the pilgrims and the Mayflower if you’re celebrating in the United States, even though it tends to gloss over some of the bloody facts. But how accurate is this tale, and is that truly the reason we celebrate?
Why is Thanksgiving celebrated in the U.S.?
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, Native Americans have been holding harvest celebrations for generations. However, a (false) narrative has been spread that the Pilgrim immigrants and the Wampanoag Native Americans had a three-day feast in 1621 when they first arrived. The Pilgrims invited their “new Native American friends” to a celebration honoring their survival and their faith.
Even though we frequently associate Thanksgiving with the pilgrims and the Mayflower, according to the Almanac, the first national Thanksgiving feast was held to commemorate the drafting of the new United States Constitution.
How Is the Thanksgiving Date Decided?
According to the Farmers Almanac, President George Washington declared November 26 of that year to be a “Day of Publick Thanksgiving” to acknowledge the part that providence played in the formation of the new United States and the new federal Constitution.
But it wasn’t until 1941 that Thanksgiving Day was declared a federal holiday in the US, observed on the final Thursday of November. Since that time, the fourth Thursday in November has always been designated as the federal holiday known as Thanksgiving. This indicates that it can occur as early as November 22 and as late as November 28.
So remember to mark November 24, 2022, on your calendars, prepare your ingredients in advance, and gather your loved ones. Whatever your feelings about the origins of the holiday, it is always a good idea to eat a meal with the people you care about.