Thanksgiving, celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November, is a holiday centered on gratitude, family, and community. It traces its origins to a 1621 harvest feast shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in what is now Massachusetts, often remembered as a symbol of cooperation and thankfulness.
Over time, Thanksgiving evolved into a national holiday, officially proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the Civil War. Today, Americans mark the day with shared meals – typically featuring turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie – while reflecting on the blessings of the year. For many, it’s also a time to acknowledge the complex history behind the holiday and to honor Native American perspectives.
When should bells ring on Thanksgiving?
There is no nationally-recognized time to ring on the Thanksgiving federal holiday. Bells may ring at will on the fourth Thursday in November.
Some handbell choirs make Thanksgiving a day of service, performing free community concerts at food banks and shelters. Carillonists might consider a concert of specially-selected pieces on the theme of gratitude, or tower bell ringers might offer a friendly peal to create a festive atmosphere in the neighborhood.
Cover image: Autumnal leaves surround the late-19th-century Walnut Grove School #10, a one-room schoolhouse in Knox County, Ohio, with a small belfry protecting a school bell.
