ThanksgivingorThanksgivingDay,celebratedonthefourthThursdayinNovember,hasofficiallybeenanannualtraditionintheUnitedStatessince1863,whenduringtheCivilWar,PresidentAbrahamLincolnproclaimedanationaldayofthanksgivingtobecelebratedonThursday,November26.AsafederalandpopularholidayintheU.S.,Thanksgivingisoneofthe"bigsix"majorholidaysoftheyear(alongwithChristmas,NewYear'sDay,MemorialDay,theFourthofJuly,andLaborDay).TogetherwithChristmasandtheNewYear,Thanksgivingisapartofthebroaderholidayseason.

　　OnThanksgivingDay,familiesandfriendsusuallygatherforalargemealordinner.Consequently,theThanksgivingholidayweekendisoneofthebusiesttravelperiodsoftheyear.Thanksgivingisafour-dayorfive-dayweekendvacationforschoolsandcolleges.Mostbusinessandgovernmentworkers(78%in2007)aregivenThanksgivingandthedayafteraspaidholidays.ThanksgivingEve,thenightbeforeThanksgiving,isoneofthebusiestnightsoftheyearforbarsandclubs,asmanycollegestudentsandothersreturntotheirhometownstoreunitewithfriendsandfamily.