Primary references

Sources you can open

Safety and history deserve direct links. These are the principal official and museum sources behind the current version of Thanksgiving.how.

Used for

Turkey thawing, cooking temperatures, holding, and leftovers

USDA: Your Safe Thanksgiving Guide

Open original source

Used for

Refrigerator, cold-water, and microwave thawing methods

USDA: Safe Thawing

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Used for

Native perspectives and responsible approaches to Thanksgiving history

National Museum of the American Indian

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Used for

Historical background and primary-source context

Smithsonian: Thanksgiving history

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Used for

Official U.S. federal holiday dates

U.S. Office of Personnel Management

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Used for

Cooling, shallow storage, refrigerator life, freezing, and reheating

USDA: Leftovers and Food Safety

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Used for

Transporting, holding, and promptly refrigerating prepared food

USDA: Safe Handling of Take-Out Foods

Open original source

Used for

Wampanoag perspectives and evidence for a fuller historical account

NMAI: The “First Thanksgiving”

Open original source

Source policy

We prefer primary government, museum, and institutional sources for claims where accuracy matters. A linked source supports the nearby guidance; it does not imply that the institution endorses Thanksgiving.how.

Sources reviewed July 24, 2026.