What is Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Day is a harvest holiday On this day Americans and Canadians give thanks for the food and blessings they have been given Thanksgiving Day is in autumn In autumn farmers harvest or gather their crops These farmers are harvesting their crops in autumn DID YOU KNOW In the United States the day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest shopping days of the year People start to shop for Christmas 4
Thanksgiving Day Farmers grow enough food to last them during the cold winter months Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for good harvests Thanksgiving Day is always in autumn when the leaves change colors 5
A National Holiday A National Holiday Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday For many it is a day off from school or work Banks post offices schools and many businesses close for the day In America President George Washington made Thursday November 26 1789 a Thanksgiving holiday It was not celebrated again the next year Businesses close on Thanksgiving Day so that families can spend time together DID YOU KNOW President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving Day a national holiday to help bring Americans together during a civil war 6
Thanksgiving Day In 1939 President Roosevelt officially made Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday of November In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving Day an annual holiday People would celebrate Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November In 1939 President Franklin D Roosevelt changed it to the fourth Thursday in November 7
