Thanksgiving Day

n.1. The fourth Thursday of November, observed as a legal holiday in the United States to commemorate the feast held at Plymouth in 1621 by the Pilgrim colonists and members of the Wampanoag people and marked by the expression of gratitude for harvest and health.2. The second Monday of October, celebrated in Canada by the expression of gratitude for harvest and health.

Thanksgiving Day

n (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) an annual day of holiday celebrated in thanksgiving to God on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, and on the second Monday of October in Canada. Often shortened to: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiv′ing Day`

n. a national holiday celebrated as a day of feasting and giving thanks for divine goodness, observed on the fourth Thursday of November in the U.S. and on the second Monday of October in Canada. [1665–75, Amer.]

Thesaurus

Noun

Thanksgiving Day - fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the WampanoagThanksgivingfeast day, fete day - a day designated for feastinglegal holiday, national holiday, public holiday - authorized by law and limiting work or official businessNov, November - the month following October and preceding December

Translations

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day,

national holiday in the United States commemorating the PilgrimsPilgrims,
in American history, the group of separatists and other individuals who were the founders of Plymouth Colony. The name Pilgrim Fathers is given to those members who made the first crossing on the Mayflower.
..... Click the link for more information. ' celebration of the harvest reaped by the Plymouth Colony in 1621, after a winter of great starvation and privation. The celebration was probably held in October. The neighboring Wampanoags, who outnumbered the colonists, joined them for three days and contributed food to the celebration. The first proclaimed day of thanksgiving in the colony was not held until 1623 (probably at the end of July), following an improvement in prospects for the still struggling colony, and was a day of prayer, not feasting.

After the American Revolution the first national Thanksgiving Day, proclaimed by President George Washington, was Nov. 26, 1789, and the Episcopal Church began celebrating an annual day of thanksgiving on the first Thursday in November. Some states established an annual Thanksgiving Day, but there was no annual national holiday until President Abraham Lincoln, urged by Sarah J. HaleHale, Edward Everett,
1822–1909, American author and Unitarian clergyman, b. Boston, grad. Harvard, 1839. He was the nephew of Edward Everett. The pastor of a church in Worcester, Mass.
..... Click the link for more information. , proclaimed one in 1863, appointing as the date the last Thursday of November. Although the only known contemporary account of the 1621 Plymouth harvest celebration had been rediscovered in 1841, the national Thanksgiving Day initially was not officially linked to it.

In 1939, 1940, and 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Thanksgiving the next-to-last Thursday in November. Conflicts arose between Roosevelt's proclamation and about half of those of state governors, and in 1941 Congress passed a joint resolution decreeing that Thanksgiving should fall on the fourth Thursday of November. The day is observed by church services and family reunions; the customary turkey dinner is a reminder of the wildfowl served at the Pilgrims' celebration. Canadians also celebrate a national Thanksgiving Day, on the second Monday in October; prior to 1957 it was on the last Monday of the month.

Thanksgiving Day

American holiday celebrating abundant harvest; originally observed by Pilgrims (1621). [Am. Culture: NCE, 2726]See: Abundance

Thanksgiving Day

American holiday acknowledging God’s favor. [Am. Culture: Brewer Dictionary, 1071]See: Gratitude

Thanksgiving Day

an annual day of holiday celebrated in thanksgiving to God on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, and on the second Monday of October in Canada

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiv′ing Day`

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day,

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day

Synonyms for Thanksgiving Day

noun fourth Thursday in November in the United States

Synonyms

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