How Many Days Until Turkey Day? A Complete Guide to Counting Down to Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of the most beloved American holidays. Families and friends gather together to feast on turkey, watch football, and give thanks for all of their blessings. With its origins tracing back to the Pilgrims’ harvest celebration in 1621, Thanksgiving has a rich history and has become a cherished tradition for millions of Americans.

But when exactly is Thanksgiving celebrated each year? And how can you count down the days until turkey day arrives? Here is a complete guide to determining how many days there are until Thanksgiving.

When Is Thanksgiving Celebrated?

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November each year. This means the actual date shifts around from year to year.

Here are the upcoming Thanksgiving dates

• 2022 – Thursday, November 24
• 2023 – Thursday, November 23
• 2024 – Thursday, November 28
• 2025 – Thursday, November 27

The 4th Thursday schedule was set in 1941 when Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up a week earlier to lengthen the Christmas shopping season during the Great Depression. Prior to that, Thanksgiving had been celebrated on the last Thursday of November.

Why Do We Celebrate Thanksgiving?

The history of Thanksgiving begins with the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Native Americans celebrating the autumn harvest together in 1621. After surviving a difficult first year in their new home, the Pilgrims aimed to express their gratitude by feasting and giving thanks.

While this was likely the first Thanksgiving celebration between European settlers and Native Americans, harvest festivals and days of thanks have ancient origins across many cultures.

In the US, days of thanksgiving were often declared locally or regionally through the 1700s and 1800s. Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of the popular Godey’s Lady’s Book, campaigned for 40 years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday before Abraham Lincoln declared it so in 1863.

Today, Thanksgiving remains focused on expressing gratitude, spending time with loved ones, and carrying on time-honored traditions. Popular Thanksgiving traditions include decorating with harvest colors, baking pies, watching football, and of course, eating turkey.

How to Count Down the Days

Now that you know when Thanksgiving is celebrated and why it’s such a cherished holiday, let’s look at the best ways to count down the days until turkey day arrives.

Online Thanksgiving Countdowns

One of the easiest ways to track the days is with an online Thanksgiving countdown. Helpful sites like Time and Date and Calendarr offer colorful, customizable counters you can access any time.

Time and Date lets you see the days, hours, minutes, and even seconds left until the holiday. Calendarr focuses just on the days remaining but has a range of fun Thanksgiving graphics to share on social media.

Add a Countdown App

Downloadable apps like Countdown App: Days Counter put a countdown right on your home screen. This makes it effortless to check in first thing in the morning or last thing before bed. The app sends you notifications as the milestone dates get closer.

DIY Calendar Method

You can take a hands-on approach by grabbing a calendar and circling or crossing off the days yourself. If you have kids, making a paper chain garland is a fun craft to watch the chain get shorter each day.

Buy a pre-printed Thanksgiving countdown calendar or make your own on blank paper. Mark off each passed day with stickers, stamps, or autumn-colored pens.

Use Thanksgiving Party Invitations

Send out your Thanksgiving dinner or Friendsgiving party invitations 4-6 weeks early. This gives guests time to make travel plans while allowing you to watch the RSVP acceptances roll in as turkey day draws nearer.

Track RSVPs on a running list or guest response board. Set a cutoff date 1-2 weeks before Thanksgiving to finalize your headcount.

Fun Ways to Build Excitement

Simply watching the days tick down is exciting enough for Thanksgiving enthusiasts. But you can build even more anticipation and festive spirit with these fun ideas:

• Decorate your home with fall wreaths, garlands, table runners, and other autumnal touches. Slowly add more decor in November.

• Make a gratitude journal or jar where family members jot down things they’re thankful for each day. Read them aloud on Thanksgiving.

• Plan comforting fall activities like apple picking, hiking, baking, game nights, and movie marathons.

• Follow Thanksgiving recipe accounts on social media. Browse recipes and pin your favorites.

• Research fun turkey day facts and trivia to share at dinner. Tell the story of the first Thanksgiving.

• Craft hand turkeys or autumn leaf garlands with kids. Display them proudly.

• Listen to festive music like Adam Sandler’s “The Thanksgiving Song” and Taylor Swift’s “Tis the Damn Season.”

Thanksgiving Countdown Tips

Here are some top tips to make the most of counting down to Thanksgiving:

• Involve kids by having them color in calendar days or add stickers.

• Display your paper chain or calendar garland prominently on the fridge or wall.

• Share your online countdown on social media to spread excitement.

• Take a picture each day posing with the paper chain or calendar.

• Use countdown milestones like the start of November or 1 week out to decorate or begin recipes.

• Set phone alerts leading up to Thanksgiving so you don’t forget to check.

• Schedule an autumn activity for each weekend before Thanksgiving.

Counting down the days builds eager anticipation for Thanksgiving and the flurry of food, family, and gratitude that come with it. With so many creative ways to track the days, you can find a method that fits your style. Before you know it, the magical, feasting-filled day will finally arrive. Gobble gobble!