Given the way many Americans currently celebrate Thanksgiving and the Christmas/New Year holidays, they are too close together.
Thanksgiving's date is arbitrary, so let's optimize it! I propose we celebrate on the fourth Thursday of October.
In addition to spreading out the usually-desirable (though sometimes-burdensome) family gatherings, this would have the benefit of moving the heaviest travel days of the year to a month in which the weather is much better across the North.
Further, for many students and teachers, the Thanksgiving holiday would serve more as a mid-semester break instead of an end-of-semester-complicating train wreck.
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That's the Canadian idea. Canadian Thanksgiving is on the 2nd Monday of October (Columbus day).
While we're at it, we need another major gift-giving holiday in the MIDDLE of the year. Many retailers make the biggest part of their annual sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas, making the end-of-year shopping season critical for success. If we had another big holiday in the middle of the year the economy would be a bit more stable, prices wouldn't peak around the end of November, and factories could be kept busy year 'round. I nominate July 4 as the other gift-giving holiday- so buy something next Independance Day for your Mom, your Sweetie, your Spouse. Make it doubly patriotic and Buy American...
What is this "Thanksgiving"? Halloween ends, then Christmas begins - that's how it goes.
I like the idea of moving Thanksgiving, but isn't the fourth Thursday in October mighty close to Halloween? I would prefer putting it around the fall equinox, which is in late September. Christmas is near the winter solstice, Easter is near the spring equinox, and Independence Day is near the summer solstice(sort of). Putting Thanksgiving near the fall equinox would balance out the holidays throughout the year.