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Thanksgiving 2025 Observed With Macy’s Parade, Family Feasts and Renewed Scrutiny of Origin Story

A federal law set the holiday for the fourth Thursday in November, shaping an annual rhythm now woven into U.S. culture.

Overview

  • Thanksgiving fell on November 27 this year under the 1941 statute fixing the holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.
  • New York’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade drew crowds with giant character balloons, including Snoopy, Super Mario and Spider-Man.
  • Households marked the day with a traditional meal centered on roast turkey, a staple that became practical for feeding large gatherings.
  • Coverage highlighted the White House turkey “pardon” as a longstanding ceremony with modern roots in the 20th century, frequently linked to examples like John F. Kennedy.
  • Reports revisited the commonly cited 1621 Plymouth feast while noting critiques from scholars and Native communities that challenge romanticized narratives and recall later conflicts such as King Philip’s War.