• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Why Thanksgiving Never Falls On November 29 or 30

By Len Penzo

why thanksgiving never falls on November 29 or 30In 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

November 1, 2023

Comments

  1. 1

    Ellis says

    How things change. Now, retailers are putting up the Christmas decorations while the Halloween decorations are still around.

    • 2

      Len Penzo says

      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!”

      • 3

        Gidjetcat says

        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.

  2. 4

    Tonie Gimpel says

    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

    • 5

      Len Penzo says

      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.

      • 6

        MeSoBatty says

        Shut the hell up cause you are very wrong!!

        • 7

          Len Penzo says

          Uh oh … It looks like somebody broke into Daddy’s liquor cabinet again!

      • 8

        Jackson says

        That might be what they want. Some people don’t like their own birthdays.

    • 9

      Leanne Sherwood says

      That’s my birthday too!

  3. 10

    MeSoBatty says

    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!

    • 11

      Robert says

      Prior to 1900s it could have relax.

    • 12

      Len Penzo says

      I did explain it, YouSoBatty. Read it again … slowly this time.

  4. 13

    Robert says

    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.

    • 14

      Len Penzo says

      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.

  5. 15

    Robert says

    2024 and 2030 closest we will be to 28 th again.

    • 16

      Ralph Boswell says

      It won’t be closest. It will be the 28th

  6. 17

    Nottoobatty says

    These answers are hilarious! Happy Thanksgiving to all and be safe

  7. 18

    Robert Wells says

    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

  8. 19

    Kristen says

    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….

  9. 20

    Lisa Clark says

    I was born Thanksgiving day November 29th 1970. It will happen again in 2029!!

    • 21

      Len Penzo says

      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.)

The Question of the Week:

How much is your Christmas gift budget this year?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 40,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!
10 Old Wives’ Tales Masquerading As Financial Rules of Thumb
Black Coffee: Coins of the Realm
How to Make the Most of Your Military Benefits
One of the Biggest Money Mistakes a Household CEO Can Make
9 Ways to Save Money When Buying a Car
Exploring the Benefits and Process of Opening a Foreign Bank Account with Incluence
How to Trim Your Christmas Shopping List
How Joining a Franchise Can Provide Financial Freedom
When Is the Right Time to Stop Giving Gifts to Nieces and Nephews?
Black Coffee: Suspicious Minds

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Popular Now:

  1. 1. How 6 Tiny Money Leaks Cost Me $2802 Annually
  2. 2. The 5 Worst Store-Brand Grocery Products
  3. 3. The Ethics of Found Money: Should You Keep It?
  4. 4. My 13-Year-Old Daughter Shares Her Financial Fears
  5. 5. My Personal Journey to Financial Freedom
  6. 6. Why I Run My Household Like a Business (and Why You Should Too)
  7. 7. 5 Ways You Can Save Money on Groceries This Week
  8. 8. 7 Great Careers That Don’t Require Experience to Start
  9. 9. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodities
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

Copyright © 2023 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2023