When Is Thanksgiving 2024 and When Does Black Friday Kick Off?

As the holiday season rolls in, Thanksgiving marks a special moment—a time for family, friends, and food. But beyond the big feast, Thanksgiving also kicks off the holiday shopping season with Black Friday right on its heels. Knowing when Thanksgiving falls this year can help you plan gatherings, menus, and even a Friendsgiving or two. Here’s everything to know about Thanksgiving 2024, why it lands when it does, and what that means for Black Friday.

When is Thanksgiving 2024?

Thanksgiving 2024 is on Thursday, November 28. This is the latest possible date Thanksgiving can fall, as it always lands on the fourth Thursday in November.

Why November 28? Thanksgiving doesn’t have a set numerical date; it shifts within the month depending on where that fourth Thursday lands. In 2024, that happens to be November 28, marking a slightly longer wait for the big day.

Did it always fall on the fourth Thursday? Interestingly, no. The holiday originally fell on the last Thursday of the month until President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it up a week in 1939. This move aimed to boost holiday shopping during the Great Depression, but it led to a divided celebration, with some states refusing to adopt the new date.

What’s on the Thanksgiving Table? Our modern Thanksgiving table looks a bit different from that 1621 feast, which likely featured venison, seafood, and local produce rather than turkey and pumpkin pie. Turkey didn’t become a staple until much later, but it’s now practically synonymous with Thanksgiving. The tradition of pumpkin pie emerged in New England by the early 18th century, and classic sides like stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce have joined the table since.

A Brief History of Thanksgiving

The roots of Thanksgiving trace back to a three-day feast in 1621, shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people. While the story is often told as a harmonious meal, the relationship between Native Americans and settlers was complex, with peace often being short-lived.

Thanksgiving being on a Thursday might seem random, but there’s historical reasoning. In colonial times, Thursday was often chosen for public gatherings. Thursdays avoided the fasting day of Friday and allowed for Sunday preparation.

The 1621 Feast: Historians believe the Wampanoag joined the Pilgrims after hearing gunfire from the celebration. They came prepared for conflict but ended up contributing five deer to the meal. Relations between the settlers and Native Americans didn’t remain peaceful for long. Many Native Americans now observe Thanksgiving as a National Day of Mourning to remember the hardships their ancestors faced.

Thanksgiving Traditions to Embrace

Thanksgiving is about more than just the meal or shopping the next day. Many traditions make the holiday season feel rich and meaningful:

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: The annual parade starts at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thanksgiving morning. It features floats, performances, and giant balloons, a tradition that has become a national favorite.

Football games: The NFL hosts games on Thanksgiving Day, a long-standing tradition for sports fans.

Friendsgiving: This celebration with friends has gained popularity in recent years as people gather for a meal in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

And Black Friday? It Follows Thanksgiving

The day after Thanksgiving—known as Black Friday—has become a major event in itself, marking the official start of the holiday shopping season. This year, Black Friday is on November 29, 2024.

Black Friday got its name in the 1960s, with “black” indicating profit for retailers, as sales boosted businesses from “in the red” (loss) to “in the black” (profit). Black Friday has grown over the years, with many retailers now starting their sales earlier and stretching into Cyber Monday (December 2 this year).

Important Dates to Remember in 2024

Here’s a quick list of key holidays and dates as the year wraps up:

• Veterans Day – Monday, November 11
• Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 28
• Black Friday – Friday, November 29
• Christmas Eve – Tuesday, December 24
• Christmas Day – Wednesday, December 25
• New Year’s Eve – Tuesday, December 31