Why Thanksgiving Can Never Be on November 29th or 30th
By law, Thanksgiving Day in the United States cannot be celebrated later than November 28. This year, households across the country will observe the holiday on the fourth Thursday in November.
Thanksgiving Traditions and Dates
Thanksgiving is a harvest celebration and, according to the U.S. government, an opportunity for Americans to "express gratitude for the good things in life." It is held annually on the fourth Thursday of November. Established by Congress over eighty years ago, this tradition places Thanksgiving within a specific one-week range: it never comes earlier than November 22 or later than November 28.
Historical Origins of Thanksgiving
The holiday traces its roots to a 1621 harvest feast shared by English colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans in what is now Massachusetts. However, the date of Thanksgiving was not always standardized.
Early Proclamations and Changes
According to the National Archives, the first official proclamation was made by President George Washington, who declared Thursday, November 26, 1789, a “Day of Publick Thanksgivin.” Over the following years, Thanksgiving was celebrated on various dates, even outside of November.
Lincoln’s Proclamation and the Final Thursday
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving to be observed on the final Thursday of November. Because November can have five Thursdays some years, this allowed the holiday to fall as late as the 30th in certain cases.
During Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency, adjustments were made due to the holiday’s late timing in years with five Thursdays in November.
Despite occasional changes in dates, the fixed window for Thanksgiving remains between November 22 and November 28, eliminating the possibility of the holiday falling on November 29 or 30.
Summary
Thanksgiving’s placement on the fourth Thursday of November ensures it never occurs on the 29th or 30th, preserving a tradition rooted in historical harvest celebrations and federal law.
"An opportunity for Americans to 'express gratitude for the good things in life'." — U.S. government
Thanksgiving is firmly set between November 22 and 28 by law, preventing the holiday from ever falling on November 29 or 30.