Evacuation Day Once Rivaled July 4th Before Thanksgiving Became National Holiday

NEW YORK, New York — November 28, 2025 — Evacuation Day, a historic holiday commemorating the British evacuation of New York City at the end of the Revolutionary War, once rivaled Independence Day in popularity before Thanksgiving became the dominant late-November celebration, officials said.

The holiday marks November 25, 1783, when British troops left Manhattan following the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War. The event was celebrated with grand parades and ceremonies, including a military march led by General George Washington and New York Governor George Clinton down Broadway to what is now the Wall Street financial district.

One notable moment of Evacuation Day involved Sergeant John Van Arsdale, a Revolutionary War veteran, who climbed a greased flagpole at Bennett Park near the northern tip of Manhattan to remove the Union Jack and replace it with the American flag. This symbolic act marked the end of British rule in New York City and was visible to residents throughout the island.

The day was widely observed in New York for many years, with celebrations that at times eclipsed those of the Fourth of July. However, the prominence of Evacuation Day began to decline after President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in November 1863. By the 1940s, Congress had officially established Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November, shifting public focus away from Evacuation Day.

The change in observance also reflected the evolving relationship between the United States and Great Britain, which has since become one of the country’s closest allies. As a result, the patriotic commemoration of the British departure gradually faded from public consciousness.

Today, Evacuation Day is largely a forgotten holiday, overshadowed by Thanksgiving and Independence Day, despite its historical significance in marking the final departure of British forces from American soil and the solidification of American independence.

Written By

Alison Grant

Alison Grant writes about jobs, inflation, corporate power and household finances. She focuses on how economic trends show up in paychecks, bills and everyday decisions for workers, families and small business owners.

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