Why doesn't Thanksgiving just stay on the same date every year instead of the last Thursday in Nov.
2006-10-31 13:11:51 · 6 answers · asked by Katie 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Thanksgiving
Though the United States' thanksgiving celebration on the fourth Thursday of November began with the United States Congressional declaration of 1941 establishing that weekday as the legal holiday of Thanksgiving Day, earlier United States Presidential Proclamations called for the last Thursday of November to be celebrated as Thanksgiving. Those Presidential Proclamations, in turn, built upon an American Colonial tradition--predating the formation of the United States-- establishing a Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. And the Thanksgiving Day Proclamations issued by American Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher (1682-1757) played an important role in the origin of "November Thanksgiving Thursday."
2006-10-31 13:18:00 · answer #1 · answered by dee luna 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because Congress officially declared the holiday would be on the 4th Thurdsay of the month. That's why the actual date changes (this year the 24th; next year the 22nd; etc.). Unlike Christmas, or your birthday, it's not on a set date... it's on a set day of the week. It will always be on the 4th Thursday no matter what actual date it falls on. Like Easter Sunday will always be set on a Sunday, but changes dates every year. Some people mistakenly think it's the last Thursday... but that's wrong. Sometimes (like next year) there are 5 Thursdays in November. Thanksgiving is the 4th.
2016-05-22 21:59:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is on the Second Monday in October in that large country to the north of the USA.
Probably in both countries the date is set by Parliament (or Congress).
If it were a certain day of the month, then it could come in the middle of the week, or on a Saturday, etc. This way, a set day of the week, it makes the "holiday" more convenient ... a one-day longer weekend in Canada; in the USA on a Thursday makes it a really long weekend ... 4 days.
Some are not thankful for Thanksgiving!! -- turkeys, for example.
2006-10-31 13:18:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
because a long time ago some crazy perosn decided to have it the fourth thursday of november.
2006-10-31 15:29:09 · answer #4 · answered by cheese 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because that's the way Congress originally defined the holiday.
2006-10-31 13:13:23 · answer #5 · answered by shirleykins 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
its the law
2006-10-31 13:13:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋