Thanksgiving Day in the United States in 2025 will be observed on Thursday, 27 November 2025, which falls on the fourth Thursday of November as has been customary since the national holiday was fixed in 1941.
It is a federal holiday across all U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
What is Thanksgiving Day?
Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. began as a day of giving thanks for harvest and blessings of the past year. According to historical records, feast-celebrations were common in early colonial America, but the holiday in its modern form was established when Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving during the Civil War (1863) and later when Congress passed legislation in 1941 fixing the date.
Today, it is widely observed with family gatherings, a large meal (traditionally featuring turkey), parades, sports events, and other cultural markers.
Why today’s observance matters
Although Thanksgiving is primarily an American holiday, its significance is two-fold and has resonance for international audiences—including in India—when one considers:
- Cultural exchange & globalisation: With the global reach of American media, traditions like Thanksgiving increasingly influence festivities, retail promotions (e.g., “Black Friday” the day after) and global commerce.
- Symbolic-economic impact: In 2025, the scale of travel, retail, and media around Thanksgiving reflects broader patterns of consumption and family mobility, which can have ripple-effects in global supply chains and tourism flows. For example, advanced travel forecasts ahead of the holiday provide early indicators of consumer behaviour and mobility trends.
- Social and historical reflection: Thanksgiving also carries deeper layers of meaning—particularly for Indigenous peoples in the U.S. The holiday is accompanied by alternative observances such as the National Day of Mourning, which highlight Native American perspectives on the colonial legacy.
What to expect in Thanksgiving 2025
- Feasts and family gatherings: Major U.S. cities and towns will witness large gatherings around food, with traditional roasts (especially turkey), stuffing, cranberry sauce, pies and other dishes.
- Travel surge: The U.S. transport sector anticipates a major surge in travel for Thanksgiving week. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the holiday travel period in 2025 is poised to be the busiest in 15 years, with over 360,000 flights scheduled and tens of millions on the roads.
- Retail and “Black Friday” link: Because Thanksgiving is followed by “Black Friday”, many retailers ramp up promotions, and the weekend becomes a major shopping period. The timing of Thanksgiving thus influences retail calendars globally.
- Parades, football & media events: One of the iconic components is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, accompanied by football games and national television specials.
Significance for an Indian audience
While Thanksgiving is not an Indian holiday, there are several reasons why it may be of interest to Indian readers:
- Global business & travel links: Many Indian companies engage with U.S. partners; understanding the holiday calendar (including closures and travel spikes) can assist in planning business communications, travel logistics or supply-chain activity.
- Cultural awareness: With increasing global diaspora and media consumption, traditions like Thanksgiving offer insights into U.S. cultural rhythms—useful for Indian students abroad, emigrants, or global-commerce professionals.
- Retail and e-commerce ties: Indian consumers may also be influenced by global retail trends stemming from American holidays (e.g., Amazon “Black Friday” deals, cross-border promotions).
- Reflection on gratitude and giving: The core themes—gratitude, harvest, family, giving back—resonate universally and may offer ideas for thematic linkages in Indian contexts (festivals, charitable drives, corporate social-responsibility initiatives).
Looking ahead: Evergreen lessons from Thanksgiving
- Timing matters – Knowing that Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November helps establish annual calendar-planning for global engagements with the U.S.
- Travel & logistics awareness – If you are involved in travel bookings, logistics, or supply-chain management with the U.S., expect elevated volumes and potential delays in the week around Thanksgiving.
- Cultural-sensitivity – The holiday’s history, including Indigenous perspectives, invites a broadened view of “thanksgiving” celebrations rather than a purely festive lens.
- Business/Marketing relevance – For Indian brands or e-commerce platforms targeting U.S. audiences (or those influenced by U.S. retail culture), Thanksgiving/Black Friday is one of the key seasonal moments.
- Universal value of gratitude – Regardless of geography, the idea of taking time to reflect on what we are thankful for can be adapted to local contexts, whether in schools, companies or communities.
Summary
Thanksgiving Day 2025 in the United States will be celebrated on 27 November 2025. It remains a cornerstone of American cultural, familial and commercial life—marking a day of thanks, feasting and gathering, while also presaging the major retail and travel rush that follows. For an Indian audience, this holiday offers valuable insight into cross-border cultural, business and travel rhythms, and its themes of gratitude and togetherness are universally relevant.