Thanksgiving Day is a United States national holiday celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November. It encompasses religious and secular aspects, being both a harvest festival and a festival of family. The origins of Thanksgiving Day are believed to lie in a first harvest celebration held in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. It always falls between November 22 and November 28.

Why is Thanksgiving always on a Thursday?

Surprisingly, this tradition dates back to Puritan times. In the colonies, Thanksgivings were held periodically to give thanks for a "blessing," according to Time. Melanie Kirkpatrick, author of Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience, says that oftentimes these days of thanks fell on Thursdays. They avoided Fridays because it was a day of fasting in the Catholic Church—the Puritans probably wanted to avoid praying on a day holy to Catholics. And Saturdays weren't an option as they spent the day preparing for the Sabbath—which also left Sunday out of the question.

Thanksgiving Day Celebrate and activities

It is an official federal holiday, and virtually all government offices and schools — and most businesses — are closed.

Thanksgiving Day in the United States is possibly the premier U.S. family celebration — typically celebrated at home or in a community setting and marked with a substantial feast. Thanksgiving provides an occasion for reunions of friends and families, and it affords Americans a shared opportunity to express gratitude for the freedoms they enjoy as well as food, shelter and other good things.

Many Americans also take time to prepare and serve meals to the needy at soup kitchens, churches and homeless shelters. Others donate to food drives or participate in charity fundraisers; in fact, hundreds of nonprofit groups throughout the country hold Thanksgiving Day charity races called “Turkey Trots.”

Thanksgiving sees the most air and car travel of the year as families and friends try to reunite for the holiday. Many Americans enjoy a local Thanksgiving parade, or the annual Macy’s department store parade, televised live from New York City.

Thanksgiving dinner.

Turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie are staples of the Thanksgiving feast, although there are meat substitutes such as “tofurkey” (combining the words tofu and turkey), a loaf made from seitan (wheat protein) or tofu (soybean protein).

You never want to show up to an event or holiday empty-handed, especially on Thanksgiving. Show your gratitude with a hostess gift that speaks to their hobbies or interests, whether that's home decor or 3D Cut Popup cards.

As the season for giving thanks, Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to send your family and friends a festive 3D card to tell them they're loved and appreciated. You're sure to find the perfect Thanksgiving card for your lucky recipient.