U.S. Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday because Congress, in a joint resolution signed on December 26, 1941, fixed the holiday as the fourth Thursday of November. Before that, presidents usually chose the last Thursday of the month, and a 1939 change by Franklin D. Roosevelt — remembered as “Franksgiving” — briefly split the country between two dates.
From Lincoln to the fourth Thursday
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1863 | Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November |
| 1939 | Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday up to the second-to-last Thursday to lengthen the shopping season |
| 1939–1941 | Some states followed Roosevelt; others kept the last Thursday. The split was nicknamed Franksgiving |
| Dec. 26, 1941 | A joint resolution, signed by Roosevelt, made Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday of November |
| 2026 | The fourth Thursday is November 26 |
Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation established a regular national Thanksgiving, and later presidents generally stayed with the last Thursday of November. In 1939, November had five Thursdays. Roosevelt hoped an earlier holiday would boost retail sales during the Depression. The National Archives summary of the 1941 law is the clearest short account of what happened next: after two years of confusion, Congress standardized the date as the fourth Thursday, which is not always the last Thursday when November has five.
Why a Thursday, and why it stuck
A Thursday holiday creates a four-day weekend for many households and leaves Friday for travel, leftovers or shopping. That midweek-to-weekend pattern is now part of the tradition, along with afternoon dinner and, for many families, football. The date itself is separate from the menu: why we celebrate Thanksgiving covers the holiday’s purpose and the 1621 gathering, and when Thanksgiving is lists the upcoming dates, including Thursday, November 26, 2026, and the 2027 date.
Canadian Thanksgiving, by contrast, is the second Monday of October and is a different legal holiday. If you are cooking for the U.S. date, start from Thursday and work backward: thaw times, brines and pies all land more easily when you count from the fourth Thursday. The Thanksgiving guide and the make-ahead calendar are built on that countdown.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Thanksgiving on a Thursday?
A 1941 federal law set it as the fourth Thursday of November. Thursday also gives many people a long weekend.
Is Thanksgiving always the last Thursday in November?
No. It is the fourth Thursday. In years when November has five Thursdays, the holiday is not on the last one.
What was Franksgiving?
The nickname for Roosevelt’s 1939–1941 decision to move Thanksgiving up a week. Some states followed, some did not, until Congress fixed the fourth Thursday.
Helpful kitchen tools
- Everyday White 16-Inch Porcelain Turkey Platter — A platter for the Thursday meal, if you are hosting.
- MALACASA 9-Inch Ceramic Pie Pan Set of 2 — Pies you can bake before the fourth Thursday arrives.
- HVH 9×13 Ceramic Baking Dish Set — Casserole dishes for a Thursday dinner.
- Pyrex Deep 9×13-Inch Glass Baking Dish with Lid — A lidded dish for a make-ahead side.
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