The U.S. has recognized Thanksgiving since 1789 when President George Washington issued the first proclamation designating the first national day of Thanksgiving. It fell on Thursday, November 26 ...

President George Washington declared Thursday ... Presidents after Washington would also issue a proclamation for Thanksgiving, but the months and days Thanksgiving was celebrated varied.

On October 3, 1789, George Washington issued his Thanksgiving proclamation, designating “a day of public thanks-giving” to be held on “Thursday the 26th day of November” that year.

At any rate, Thanksgiving has been held on a Thursday in November since George Washington’s presidency ... Lincoln issued his proclamation on Oct. 3, 1863, three months after Union Army ...