Thanksgiving 2025 Guide | Date, Parade and More

Thanksgiving is a special holiday in the United States, which people celebrate with their family, friends, and loved ones. It started a long time ago, in 1621, when the Pilgrims and Native Americans shared a big meal to celebrate a good harvest. It’s that special time of year when homes are filled with the delicious smells of roasting turkey, laughter through living rooms, and people everywhere give thanks for the good things in their lives. It’s also a time for watching parades, football, and helping others.

On what day is Thanksgiving 2025

Mark your calendars for this Thanksgiving Day in 2025, which is going to fall on Thursday, November 27. This special holiday is celebrated in the United States every year on the fourth Thursday in November.

Thanksgiving Dates (U.S.) – 2025 to 2028

Year

U.S. Thanksgiving Date

2025

Thursday, November 27

2026

Thursday, November 26

2027

Thursday, November 25

2028

Thursday, November 23

Family Celebration

Thanksgiving is a time when families come together to celebrate love, gratitude, and togetherness. They share a big meal, usually with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy, and delicious pies, and give thanks for the blessings they have. Before eating, some families take a moment to say what they are thankful for, and this helps everyone focus on the good things in their lives.

They spend their day together with laughter, stories, games, and even watching football or a holiday movie. It’s just not about the food, but Thanksgiving is all about spending quality time with the people you care about and creating memories with them that last a lifetime.

What to Expect on Thanksgiving 2025

• Epic Feasts: come together to enjoy a delicious meal, usually crispy turkey, fluffy mashed potatoes with gravy, tangy cranberry sauce, and sweet treats like pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Food is just an excuse to spend some time with your family and friends.
• Festive Parades: One of the biggest events is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. You’ll see huge balloons, floats, marching bands, and fun performances. Many people watch it live on TV as part of their holiday tradition.
• Football Time: Thanksgiving and football go hand in hand. There are special games played on Thanksgiving Day, and lots of families watch them together and cheer for their favorite teams.
• Giving Back: Thanksgiving is also a time to give back and share blessings. Volunteering, donating food, or simply helping a neighbor can turn this day into something truly meaningful. It’s a great way to show kindness and be thankful for what you have.

History of Thanksgiving

Long before Thanksgiving became a U.S. holiday, Native Americans had been celebrating harvest festivals for hundreds of years. The most famous early Thanksgiving happened in 1621, when a group of people called the Pilgrims came to America on a ship called the Mayflower. The Native Americans, especially a group called the Wampanoag, helped the Pilgrims learn how to grow crops like corn and to find food. So the Pilgrims show their gratitude by inviting the Wampanoag people to join them for a big meal. This is known as the First Thanksgiving. They ate, played games, and gave thanks for their food and new friendships, but it wasn’t the only one.

Later, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday. Since then, people in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving every year on the fourth Thursday in November.

Some people believe the first real Thanksgiving happened earlier than 1621:

• In 1598, Spanish settlers held a Thanksgiving in what is now El Paso, Texas.
• In 1619, British settlers had a Thanksgiving in Virginia.
• The Pilgrims in Plymouth had a harvest feast in 1621, but their first true thanksgiving may have been in 1623, when they gave thanks for rain after a drought. That event was more like a church service, not a feast.

Even after the Pilgrims, many U.S. colonies and states had their own Thanksgiving days until it became a national holiday much later. Today, Thanksgiving is a time for family, food, and being thankful for the good things in our lives.

Plan your Thanksgiving Day 2025 with Travelpodium

This beloved holiday is the time for family food, gratitude, and often, travel. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year, but with Travelpodium, you can book your flights early to avoid last-minute prices. So whether you are heading home, planning a getaway, or looking for new experiences, Travelpodium is here to make your 2025 Thanksgiving day smooth, joyful, and stress-free.

Conclusion

Spend this Thanksgiving by gathering with your loved ones around the table and giving thanks for all that you have. Remember the rich history behind this special holiday, from the early harvest festivals of Native Americans to the Pilgrims' feast in 1621, and many more. Be ready for this 2025 Thanksgiving Day, which will fall on Thursday, November 27. Now we know what day Thanksgiving 2025 is, so celebrate this special day of the United States by comforting smells of turkey and pie to heartfelt moments shared with family and friends.

It’s never too early to start planning your gateway with the amazing services of Travelpodium. Visit Travelpodium now to start planning your perfect holiday. Don't wait and make your 2025 Thanksgiving Day meaningful, memorable, and stress-free.