What national holiday is celebrated in the U.S. on the fourth Thursday of November?

Thanksgiving is the national holiday celebrated in the U.S. on the fourth Thursday of November. This celebration has its roots in early colonial history, particularly the Pilgrims’ feast in 1621, which was a harvest celebration shared with Native Americans. Over the years, Thanksgiving evolved into a holiday focusing on gratitude and gathering with family and friends to share a meal, often featuring turkey and other traditional foods.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated in November, and it has since been established as a time for reflection on the harvest and the blessings of the past year. The specific designation of the fourth Thursday in November was made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, and has been observed this way ever since.