Thanksgiving 2026 (Nov 26): 7 Things to Know About Its Origins + the 100th Macy's Parade
Every late November, feeds fill up with roast turkey, pumpkin pie and Black Friday deals. That is because Thanksgiving 2026 arrives on Thursday, November 26, and this year is special: New York's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade marches for the 100th time. Yet the holiday did not come from a single meal. It took one woman's 36-year campaign and a president's proclamation in the middle of a civil war.
In short: Thanksgiving is a US federal holiday held on the fourth Thursday of November (November 26 in 2026). It traces back to a three-day harvest feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag in 1621, became a national holiday with Abraham Lincoln's proclamation of October 3, 1863, and was fixed to the fourth Thursday by Congress in 1941.
1. The 1621 feast looked nothing like the cartoons
After the colony's first corn harvest, Governor William Bradford of Plymouth held a three-day celebration. Edward Winslow's letter, the only first-hand account, says the Wampanoag leader Massasoit arrived with about ninety men and brought five deer, while four colonists went fowling and returned with enough birds to feed the colony for almost a week.
Venison and waterfowl were on the table; whether turkey was served is still debated.
There were likely no pies or desserts: the colony had no oven and little sugar.
Squanto, a Pawtuxet man who had been kidnapped and sold into slavery before returning home, taught the settlers to grow corn, fish and avoid poisonous plants.
It is also worth knowing that many Americans, including people of Native American ancestry, feel the cozy version of the story hides the conflict that followed, so Thanksgiving carries more than one point of view.
2. The woman who wrote letters for 36 years: Sarah Josepha Hale
Before 1863, states held their own thanksgiving days on different dates. The person who pushed for one national holiday was Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey's Lady's Book and author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Starting in 1827 she spent 36 years writing editorials and letters to officials, earning the nickname “Mother of Thanksgiving.” Her decisive letter reached Lincoln on September 28, 1863.
3. Lincoln and 1863: giving thanks in the middle of a civil war
Days later, on October 3, 1863, Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November a national day of thanksgiving, issued in the months after the Battle of Gettysburg. The National Park Service notes that Secretary of State William Seward drafted the text, and that Lincoln issued nine thanksgiving proclamations during his presidency.
A neat coincidence: George Washington named November 26, 1789 as a day of thanksgiving, the first nationwide Thanksgiving under Lincoln's proclamation fell on November 26, 1863, and in 2026 the holiday lands on November 26 again. Thomas Jefferson was the only early president who refused to issue such proclamations, citing the separation of church and state.
Want to know Lincoln better? “Abraham Lincoln: Emancipator of a Nation” (101 pages) by ChatStick Team follows his early years, his political rise, his leadership through the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation and his legacy for civil rights. Read alongside the Thanksgiving story, it helps explain why a wartime president wanted the whole nation to pause and give thanks together. Read our full review
4. Franksgiving: the years America had two Thanksgivings
In 1939, during the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving a week earlier to lengthen the holiday shopping season. The country split: 23 states followed the new date, 23 kept the last Thursday and two observed both, a mess nicknamed “Franksgiving.” Congress settled it by fixing the holiday to the fourth Thursday of November, and Roosevelt signed the bill on December 26, 1941. That rule still stands.
5. The 100th Macy's Parade and the turkey pardon
Macy's first parade on November 27, 1924 featured live animals from the Central Park Zoo. Felix the Cat became the first character balloon, helium arrived in 1928, and the parade paused for a few years during World War II, which is why 2026 is exactly the 100th edition.
Starts 8:30 a.m. ET on November 26 on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo.
A 2.5-mile route from Central Park West to Macy's Herald Square, watched by about 3.5 million people on the streets.
A record 100 inflatables, including the return of the Blue Hippopotamus, a balloon that floated away in 1931.
And the turkey pardon? The NPS says Lincoln spared his son Tad's turkey, Jack, though that bird was meant for Christmas. The formal White House pardon ceremony as we know it began with George H. W. Bush in 1989.
Easy ways to celebrate, wherever you are
Set a reminder for the 100th parade: 8:30 a.m. ET (13:30 UTC). Streaming availability varies by country.
Start a gratitude jar: everyone writes three things they are thankful for and reads them at dinner.
Send one short thank-you message a day for a week to a teacher, colleague or parent.
Keep the menu simple: roast chicken, mashed potatoes and roasted pumpkin still feel festive.
Use the long weekend to read a short piece of American history; it makes the news and Hollywood films far richer.
Who are you most thankful for this year?
You do not need a holiday to thank the people who helped you. Tell us in the comments who you would thank this year, or share this article with a friend who loves history.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
In the United States it is Thursday, November 26, 2026, the fourth Thursday of the month. Canada celebrated on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Was there turkey at the first Thanksgiving in 1621?
The only first-hand account mentions wild fowl and five deer brought by the Wampanoag. Whether turkey was served is debated; it became the holiday centerpiece later.
How is Black Friday connected to Thanksgiving?
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and kicks off the holiday shopping season. In 2026 it falls on November 27, followed by Cyber Monday.
What time does the 100th Macy's Parade start?
8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, November 26, 2026, broadcast on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo. That is 13:30 UTC, 20:30 in Bangkok and 21:30 in Taipei.
Sources: HISTORY.com – Thanksgiving · NPS – Lincoln and Thanksgiving · Farmers' Almanac · Macy's (Business Wire) · AFAR · NYC Tourism
The book recommended in this article is published by ChatStick Team. Browse all our titles on Google Play Books – ChatStick Team
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