In 1863, President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be a day for “thanksgiving and praise.” It’s a tradition that managed to stay that way until 1939 when worried retailers begged President Franklin Roosevelt to make Thanksgiving a week earlier because, that year, the last Thursday of November fell on the 30th — meaning there’d be only 24 shopping days until Christmas. Sympathetic to their plight, FDR declared Thanksgiving to be the fourth Thursday in November. Congress made the change official in 1941. And now you know why Thanksgiving never falls on November 29 or 30.
The bottom line: The change was cosmetic — businesses found that Christmas shoppers didn’t spend more; they just altered their shopping patterns.
Photo Credit: USDAgov
How things change. Now, retailers are putting up the Christmas decorations while the Halloween decorations are still around.
Yep. I was in a Lowes on September 26th (!) and I noticed them putting the Christmas items (artificial trees and holiday home decorations) on display along with the Halloween stuff. I pointed to the trees and told the associate, “You’re killing me!” and he just looked up from his work and said “It’s killing me too!”
I used to work in a very large department store and we always started setting up Christmas early as it took us several months(or at least it seemed like it did )to get all the items tagged , trees decorated other Christmas items put on shelves . We had extra seasonal help and that is all they did was get the store ready for the holidays. I also remember traveling to other stores to help . One can never imagine the work involved. I sure didnt until I actually was doing it.
2018 my birthday was the last Thursday of November which was November 29th so it wasn’t fair that my birthday wasn’t on Thanksgiving day
Hmm. I think having your b-day on Thanksgiving Day would detract from your big day, Tonie. If I were you, I’d be thankful my b-day and Thanksgiving never lined up on the same day! But that’s just me.
Shut the hell up cause you are very wrong!!
Uh oh … It looks like somebody broke into Daddy’s liquor cabinet again!
That might be what they want. Some people don’t like their own birthdays.
That’s my birthday too!
My birthday was on the 29th of November in 2018 so explain how the last time thanksgiving landed on the 29th of November was 1863. Your results are wrong because according to the internet and a calendar, it states that Last thanksgiving was on the 29th of November…
You are wrong you little batty!
Prior to 1900s it could have relax.
I did explain it, YouSoBatty. Read it again … slowly this time.
Born nov 30 th and bummed they changed the day of Thanksgiving wich could have fell any day that fell on thurs the last week of nov for more shopping days . Also your all very nasty and need to grow up.
For what it’s worth, my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary fell on Thanksgiving (Nov 28th). I was kind of bummed about that at the time because it seemed to detract from their big day.
2024 and 2030 closest we will be to 28 th again.
It won’t be closest. It will be the 28th
These answers are hilarious! Happy Thanksgiving to all and be safe
Used to be the last Thursday of Nov.– which could be the 4th ,or 5th ,if the 1st one was the 1st or 2nd. FDR made it only the 4th Thursday and that became law in 1941,so it’s the 22nd to the 28th every year. It’s a Thursday we will be happy to celebrate this year even tho we’ll , at least most of us , be Home Alone (1,2 or close family) with all this stuff!—(ing.) Any way—have a turkey happy day!—Oo-ps! I meant a very happy turkey of a day! Oh well,Happy Thanksgiving!!!—anyway. Rob-a-Bob
Lets all be thankful to God that we are alive and havent been plagued by COVID-19!! I just read in Jesus Calling that Hallelujahs are the language of heaven and they can become the language of OUR 💕💕💕! Blessings to all of you….
I was born Thanksgiving day November 29th 1970. It will happen again in 2029!!
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa. I hate to break the news to you, but … well … there’s no other way to say this: Your parents lied. The truth is you were born on a Sunday; not a Thursday.
Let me know if you need any emotional support!
(Oh, yes … I almost forgot. Thanksgiving in 2029 falls on November 22nd.)