Thanksgiving 2026: Date, History and a Simple Pumpkin Pie

Published October 24, 2026 · GiveOwl

Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, and the fixed date is less than a century old. This page explains how it was settled, gives the USDA's basic turkey and leftover rules, and offers a simple pumpkin pie to bake.

The date in 2026

• Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26, the fourth Thursday of November. OPM lists it as a federal holiday.
• Black Friday: Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30. See Black Friday & 12 Days of Christmas giveaways 2026.
• Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 29 days after Thanksgiving (our calculation).

How the date was fixed

• 1789: The National Archives says Congress asked the president to recommend a day of thanksgiving, and George Washington named Thursday, November 26, 1789.
• 1863: Dates varied for decades until Abraham Lincoln's 1863 proclamation, which asked Americans to observe the last Thursday of November. The Library of Congress adds that the writer and editor Sarah Josepha Hale had campaigned for an annual national day for more than a decade, and had written to Lincoln.
• 1939: In 1939 the last Thursday fell on November 30. The National Archives says Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday a week earlier to lengthen the Christmas shopping season. Thirty-two states followed and sixteen did not, so for two years the country celebrated on two different days.
• 1941: Congress fixed the date. The House proposed the last Thursday; the Senate changed it to the fourth Thursday to allow for Novembers with five Thursdays. Roosevelt signed the resolution on December 26, 1941. The Library of Congress says Public Law 77-379 set the date from 1942 and made Thanksgiving an annual federal holiday.

Turkey and leftovers: the USDA basics

• Cook to 165°F. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service says turkey must reach a minimum internal temperature of 165°F, measured with a food thermometer in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing and the innermost part of the thigh, without touching bone.
• Stuffing. USDA does not recommend stuffing a whole turkey and advises cooking stuffing separately. If you do stuff the bird, do not stuff it the night before.
• Do not wash raw turkey. USDA says it is safest not to, because bacteria can spread around the kitchen. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after handling raw poultry.
• Two-hour rule. Do not leave perishable food at room temperature for more than two hours, or one hour above 90°F. Divide leftovers into shallow covered containers so they cool quickly.
• Leftovers. USDA says Thanksgiving leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to four days, or you can freeze them. Reheat leftovers to 165°F before eating.

Simple pumpkin pie

Makes one 9-inch pie, about 8 slices. Our own recipe; we have not kitchen-tested it. It uses a store-bought unbaked pie crust and canned pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling).

Ingredients

• 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust in a pie plate
• 1 can (15 oz) 100% pumpkin purée
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg and ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 can (12 fl oz) evaporated milk

Method

1. Heat the oven to 425°F with a rack in the lower third. Put the pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet; it makes the pie easier to carry and catches drips.
2. Whisk the sugar, spices and salt in a large bowl. Add the eggs and beat lightly, then stir in the pumpkin and then the evaporated milk until smooth.
3. Pour the filling into the crust. Bake for 15 minutes.
4. Lower the oven to 350°F and bake for another 40 to 50 minutes, until the edge is set and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. The center should still jiggle slightly; it firms up as it cools.
5. Cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. Refrigerate once it has cooled, and do not leave the pie out for more than two hours, because it contains eggs and milk.

This is our own simple recipe with everyday ingredients – we have not kitchen-tested it, so treat times and temperatures as a guide and adjust for your oven. Allergens: depending on the recipe it contains wheat (gluten), milk and eggs; check every label for traces of nuts, soy and other allergens before you cook for other people.

The pie contains eggs, milk and (in the crust) wheat. Ready-made crusts can contain other allergens, so read the label.

Read next

From here the season runs on to Advent calendar tradition in the US and Christmas sugar cookies: recipe and cookie exchange tips. All the dates 2026: Christmas in the US: traditions and recipes.