When is Thanksgiving? Get to know the holiday's history and what's open in 2023.
When Oct. 31 has passed, the spooky season of Halloween comes to a close. Most people are ready to fast forward to December, eager to embrace the winter holidays and their cheerful spirit ? just ask Mariah Carey.
But amid these holidays is another. Through the years, Thanksgiving has become known for watching football games, spending time with family and friends, eating good food and, of course, the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
While the holiday's origins may not be as accurate as the tales that appear in children's stories or high school textbooks, many see the day as an opportunity to enjoy the company of loved ones and show gratitude.
Here's everything you need to know about Thanksgiving 2023 from dates to what's open on the holiday.
When is Thanksgiving 2023?
Thanksgiving is this year is Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023.
On what day does Thanksgiving fall?
The holiday falls on the third Thursday in November each year.
Looking for a laugh? 60 hilarious Thanksgiving memes that are a little too relatable for turkey day 2023
Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving did not become a national holiday until 1863, though the "first celebration" is said to have taken place in 1621, the History Channel reports. The story, historically told from the white pilgrim's perspective, is that colonists shared a meal with the indigenous Wampanoag people to give thanks for a successful fall harvest.
This lore, however, is not completely accurate. Most recounts of the event's significance are often overstated, USA TODAY journalist Eryn Dion noted in her reporting.
Members of the Wampanoag were not formally invited as a gesture of good grace. Instead, the pilgrims became a bit rowdy at their feast and began shooting into the air. Fearing violence, Wampanoag warriors came to see what was occurring, prepared for war (if need be) but saw it was a celebration and eventually joined the feast.
As for when the holiday was recognized nationally, President Abraham Lincoln designated the final Thursday of November to be "Thanksgiving," the History Channel reports. It was observed on that day until 1939, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt moved the holiday's date one week earlier hoping to increase retail sales during the Great Depression.
This sentiment has continued throughout the decades as holiday shopping and spending flourishes around Thanksgiving and thereafter.
What stores are open on Thanksgiving?
While some retailers and grocery stores close their doors on Thanksgiving day, others remain open — just in case there's a missing ingredient discovered hours before guests arrive or worse, your sink springs a leak.
Here is a list of stores that will remain open on Thanksgiving Day 2023. Be sure to check your local branch, however, as hours may vary:
CVS
Albertson's
Kroger
ACME
Ralphs
Albertsons
Jewel-Osco
Safeway
Stop & Shop
Meijer
Vons
Shaw's
Tom Thumb
Walgreens
Whole Foods Market
Rite Aid
Dollar General
Wawa
Contributing: Anna Kaufman
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Thanksgiving 2023? What day the holiday falls on this year.