Thanksgiving Day 2025 falls on Thursday, November 27 — the fourth Thursday in November, as set by Congress in 1941. More than 90 % of Americans will gather with family or friends, eat roughly 46 million turkeys, and watch football or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. But what exactly are they celebrating?
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At its core, Thanksgiving is a national holiday dedicated to giving thanks for the year’s blessings — especially the harvest and family. Yet its story is far more complicated than school pageants suggest.
The Real History (Not Just the 1621 Story)
Most Americans learn the simplified version: In 1621, the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts, held a three-day feast with the Wampanoag tribe after a successful harvest. About 50 colonists and 90 Native Americans shared venison, fowl, and corn.
However, historians now emphasize:
- Similar harvest festivals existed across cultures for centuries
- The 1621 event was not called “Thanksgiving” at the time
- Actual Thanksgiving proclamations began during the Revolutionary War
George Washington issued the first presidential Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789. Abraham Lincoln made it an annual holiday in 1863 — during the Civil War — to foster unity. Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the date in 1939–1941 to extend the Christmas shopping season, finally settling on the fourth Thursday.
Why Thanksgiving Matters in Modern America
- Family & Food – Largest travel weekend of the year (55+ million Americans travel)
- Football Tradition – Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have hosted games since 1934 and 1966
- Black Friday Kickoff – Retailers earned $9.8 billion online alone in 2024
- Parades & Charity – Macy’s parade (1924–present) draws 50 million TV viewers; turkey trots and food drives help millions
The Controversies: “Thanks-Taking” and Native American Perspectives
Many Native Americans call the holiday a Day of Mourning. The United American Indians of New England have held protests in Plymouth since 1970, pointing to centuries of land loss, forced relocation, and cultural erasure that followed European arrival.
In 2025, several states (including California and Minnesota) now recognize Native American Heritage Day on the Friday after Thanksgiving, and some schools teach both sides of the story.
Thanksgiving 2025 By the Numbers
| Stat | 2025 Estimate |
|---|---|
| Turkeys consumed | 46 million |
| Average calories per person | 4,500 |
| Travelers (AAA) | 55.4 million |
| Macy’s Parade viewers | 50+ million |
| Charitable meals served | 25+ million |
How Americans Actually Celebrate Today
- 88 % eat turkey (12 % choose ham or plant-based)
- 76 % watch football
- 62 % shop Black Friday deals (in-store or online)
- 46 % volunteer or donate food
In conclusion, Thanksgiving 2025 remains America’s most widely observed secular holiday — a day that blends gratitude, family, overeating, and football. Whether you focus on the harvest feast of 1621, Lincoln’s call for unity, or acknowledge the painful history for Native communities, one thing is clear: November 27 is when the country pauses, eats too much, and argues over politics at the dinner table.
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough — Dkolla Team”
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