# Thankgiving

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thankgiving/42358>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 22, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thankgiving/42358 "2000-11-22T20:27:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thankgiving/42358/1 "2000-11-22T20:27:37Z")

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Why on a Thursday? Why not do the civilized thing and celebrate it on a Monday (as we Canadians), or even on a Friday?

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**Author:** ![Stylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Stylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stylus)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thankgiving/42358/2 "2000-11-22T20:53:03Z")

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Because we lazy Americans would prefer to have a FOUR day weekend!

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**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thankgiving/42358/3 "2000-11-22T21:00:25Z")

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Just WAGging, but how’s this: If you had it on Friday, a lot of Americans wouldn’t be able to pig out (which is what the whole thing’s about, anyway). Until fairly recently, Catholics observed dietary restrictions on Fridays.

And Monday? Who’d want to go to work the day after a feast?

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thankgiving/42358/4 "2000-11-22T21:01:42Z")

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If U.S. Thanksgiving were on a Friday, the first Christmas Season shopping day would be on a Saturday. And the stores are just too crowded on Saturdays!

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**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thankgiving/42358/5 "2000-11-22T21:14:47Z")

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I was hoping for a more ‘logical’/‘rational’ explanation. Guess some of you are already…in the spirit. My WAG (totally unofficial): To give you ‘a bit more time’ to give thanks.😃

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**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thankgiving/42358/6 "2000-11-22T21:43:24Z")

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of course, Cecil has the answers…  
[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_147.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_147.html)

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**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thankgiving/42358/7 "2000-11-22T22:45:03Z")

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Amateur mistake. I shoulda known (or at least strongly suspected).

Thanks.