Thanksgiving Countdown
Counting down to Thanksgiving
How it works
Thanksgiving in the United States traces its origins to a harvest feast shared by the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag people in 1621. Over the following centuries, individual states and communities held days of thanksgiving at different times of year. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day in 1863, during the Civil War, setting it on the last Thursday of November. President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the fourth Thursday in November in 1939 to extend the Christmas shopping season, and Congress made that date permanent in 1941 — the rule the US still follows today.
Unlike holidays fixed to a calendar date, US Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday in November. That means the date shifts between 22 November and 28 November depending on how the Thursdays line up. This countdown finds the first Thursday of November, adds three weeks to reach the fourth Thursday, and automatically rolls forward to the following year once the current Thanksgiving has passed — so you always see the next upcoming date without refreshing the page.
Canada also celebrates Thanksgiving, but on a different date with different roots. Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday in October and grew from European harvest traditions rather than the Plymouth feast. This page counts down to US Thanksgiving only, which is the date most people search for when looking up "days until Thanksgiving."
Frequently asked questions
When is Thanksgiving in the US?
US Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November. The exact date shifts between 22 November and 28 November each year. Use the live countdown at the top of this page to see the precise date and time remaining until the next US Thanksgiving.
Why is Thanksgiving always on a Thursday?
Thanksgiving was placed on a Thursday largely by tradition. President Lincoln's 1863 proclamation set it on the last Thursday of November, and many early American thanksgiving observances had already fallen on Thursdays — a day that left Friday free for preparation before a weekend celebration. When FDR fixed the holiday to the fourth Thursday in 1941, the Thursday rule was preserved.
Is Thanksgiving the same date every year?
No. US Thanksgiving is not tied to a fixed calendar date — it is always the fourth Thursday in November, so the date moves each year. It can fall anywhere from 22 November to 28 November depending on what day of the week 1 November lands on.
How is the date of Thanksgiving calculated?
Clockr finds the first Thursday of November by checking what day of the week 1 November falls on, then adds 21 days (three weeks) to reach the fourth Thursday. Once that date has passed, the countdown rolls forward to the following year's Thanksgiving automatically.
Is Thanksgiving celebrated on a different date in Canada?
Yes. Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October — roughly six weeks before the US holiday. Canadian Thanksgiving has different historical origins, drawing on European harvest festivals rather than the 1621 Plymouth feast. This countdown focuses on US Thanksgiving, which is the date most commonly searched for internationally.
What is the history of Thanksgiving?
The best-known origin story is the 1621 harvest feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts, shared by English colonists and the Wampanoag people. Days of thanksgiving were proclaimed sporadically for centuries before Abraham Lincoln established a national holiday in 1863. Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it to the fourth Thursday in November in 1939, and Congress confirmed that rule in 1941. Today it is one of the most widely observed holidays in the United States, marked by family gatherings, parades, and a traditional turkey dinner.