Thanksgiving: Fact Sheet
Updated November 22, 2022
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R44279

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Thanksgiving: Fact Sheet

Introduction
Thanksgiving is a federal holiday observed on the fourth Thursday in November. It began in 1621
as a harvest celebration between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians and has become a time
for families and friends to gather to reflect and to express gratitude.
In 1789, President George Washington declared November 26 a national day of Thanksgiving.
Subsequent Presidents issued Thanksgiving proclamations, but the dates of the commemoration
changed. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation establishing the last
Thursday of November as Thanksgiving
In October 1941, Congress passed H.J. Res. 41, which declared the last Thursday in November a
legal holiday. In December 1941, the resolution was amended to establish the holiday as the
fourth Thursday, taking into account years when November has five Thursdays.
This guide is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to Thanksgiving. It
provides links to sample congressional speeches, presidential proclamations, and cultural and
historical resources.
CRS Report
CRS Report R41990, Federal Holidays: Evolution and Current Practices, by Jacob R. Straus
Sample Congressional Speeches
Members of Congress often make floor statements, issue press releases, and enter Extensions of
Remarks into the Congressional Record to recognize federal holidays. The fol owing are some
examples that may be of assistance in preparing such statements:
 Representative Steve Cohen, “Congressman Cohen Wishes Al a Safe
Thanksgiving,” press release on Representative Cohen’s website (November 24,
2021)
 Senator Sheley Capito, “Thanksgiving,” remarks in the Senate, Congressional
Record (November 18, 2020)
 Representative Abigail Spanberger, “Statement Ahead of Thanksgiving Day,”
press release on Representative Spanberger’s website (November 27, 2019)
 Senator John Thune, “Thanksgiving,” remarks in the Senate, Congressional
Record (November 21, 2019)
 Senator Deb Fischer, “Tradition and Gratitude,” column on Senator Fischer’s
website (November 19, 2018)
 Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán, “Happy Thanksgiving,” press release on
Representative Barragán’s website (November 23, 2017)
 Senator Joe Manchin, “Manchin Wishes West Virginians a Happy Thanksgiving,”
press release on Senator Manchin’s website (November 22, 2017)
 Representative Pete Sessions, “Be Thankful: In Honor of the Men and Women
and Their Families This Thanksgiving,” Extensions of Remarks, Congressional
Record (November 20, 2014)
Congressional Research Service

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Thanksgiving: Fact Sheet

Presidential Proclamations
One of the uses of a presidential proclamation is to honor a group or cal attention to certain
issues or events. Proclamations commemorating Thanksgiving include the fol owing:
 Presidential Proclamations—President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (2021-)
 Presidential Proclamations—President Donald J. Trump (2017-2021)
 Presidential Proclamations—President Barack Obama (2009-2017)
 Presidential Proclamations—President George W. Bush (2001-2009)
Earlier presidential proclamations are available through the Government Publishing Office (GPO)
website at govinfo.gov.
Thanksgiving Day Resources
Numerous government resources provide information on the history and culture of the holiday.
Some of these include the fol owing:
 Thanksgiving, Library of Congress
 Thanksgiving Primary Source Set, Teacher’s Guide, Library of Congress
 Thanksgiving Day, Department of State
 Thanksgiving, National Archives News, National Archives and Records
Administration
 Congress Establishes Thanksgiving, National Archives and Records
Administration, Center for Legislative Archives
 Thanksgiving in North America: From Local Harvests to National Holiday,
Smithsonian Institution
 Lincoln and Thanksgiving, National Park Service.

Author Information

Audrey Celeste Crane-Hirsch

Reference Librarian

Congressional Research Service

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Thanksgiving: Fact Sheet



Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should n ot be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
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Congressional Research Service
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