A designated date of Thanksgiving in the United States had, before 1941, a variable history. A day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed, by various United States presidents, in months that included March, April, May, September and December.
The fourth Thursday of November, however, was finally established as a “legal public holiday” by a bill passed on Oct. 6, 1941 by the United States House of Representatives. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill in December 1941 and it took effect as a federal holiday in November 1942.
Government offices — Los Angeles city and county, national and state — and courts, libraries and schools are closed for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.
City, county and state offices, superior courts, libraries (bit.ly/2ZCdZV5; lacountylibrary.org) and schools, including Los Angeles Unified School District (achieve.lausd.net/calendar), are also closed on Nov. 24.
Here is a sampling of other services that are closed or have an altered service on Thursday-Friday.
Banks: Closed on Nov. 23. Also, New York Stock Exchange markets are closed on Nov. 23 and close early on Nov. 24 (www.nyse.com/markets/hours-calendars). The bond market is also closed on Nov. 23 and closes early on Nov. 24 (www.kiplinger.com/investing/stock-market-holidays)
Mail: The U.S. Postal Service does not deliver mail and post offices are closed on Nov. 23. about.usps.com/newsroom/events
Transit: Buses and subway services in Los Angeles run on a Saturday/Sunday/holiday schedule on Nov. 23. Check this page for rail and bus schedules: www.metro.net/riding/schedules-2/. Metro’s home page: www.metro.net
Metrolink trains operate on a weekend schedule on Nov. 23-24 on the Ventura County, Antelope Valley, San Bernardino, Orange County, 91/Perris Valley and Inland Empire-Orange County lines (no service, however, on the Riverside Line). Metrolink’s $10 Holiday Pass is available for Nov. 23-24 (tinyurl.com/2ne5z5vf). metrolinktrains.com/schedules/thanksgiving-day
Trash: Pickup is postponed by one day in Los Angeles beginning with Nov. 23 trash (picked up on Nov. 24), and Nov. 24 trash (picked up on Nov. 25). More information on Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment, 800-773-2489; click on What We Do, then Collection and then click on Holiday Trash Collection here: www.lacitysan.org. Pickup is on a regular schedule in Burbank (www.burbankca.gov/web/public-works/trash-faqs; 818-238-3800) and in Glendale (look under “Collection Schedule”: tinyurl.com/486wukn7)