The traditional holiday of Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and there is no reason to stay calm. With the end of November nearing, Americans have started to prepare their Thanksgiving menus—with the turkeys and stuffing ingredients, likely already purchased. However, this year, Thanksgiving seems to arrive a little later than usual. When is Thanksgiving Day? This is the first questioned googled at the time of the year, aside from the history and significance associated with the traditional celebration. If you are still unsure about the Thanksgiving 2019 date, we are here to reduce that stress. Know the celebratory date, history, significance and traditional observation of the grandest festivity in the United States. What Are Health Benefits of Eating Turkey?

Thanksgiving 2019 Date

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday of the month, since the time of Abraham Lincoln. This year, the month of November begins on a Friday, which means the fourth Thursday of the month falls on November 28. However, Thanksgiving 2019 is considered to be extremely late since 2013.

Thanksgiving History and Significance

Thanksgiving historically began as a day of giving thanks and sacrifice for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Pilgrims and Puritans who emigrated from England in the 1620s and 1630s, carried the tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving with them to England. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which today is acknowledged as the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. However, it was not until 1863, amid the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Thanksgiving Day, which is to be held in November.

Although Thanksgiving may originally have had a religious significance, the day mostly has become a secular holiday. Americans gather the holiday as a day to gather and express being thankful through food, family and football. People also write down what they are thankful for on tiny notes and read that aloud in front of everyone. In New York City, the day is also celebrated with the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. With the celebration of Thanksgiving, the month-long shopping for the winter holidays begins with Black Friday, kicking off the season.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2019 05:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).