Thanksgiving Day: A Time to Reflect, Celebrate, and Be Grateful

Thanksgiving Day is one of the most loved and admired traditions in the U.S. and Canada. After Halloween, Thanksgiving brings together all the family members to enjoy before winter comes. While its history is rooted in harvest festivals, Thanksgiving has evolved into a broader celebration of togetherness and appreciation. Over the years, it has become recognized as a holiday to look forward to great food, football games, and even the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Take a look at our blog if you are curious about when Thanksgiving falls this year and how Thanksgiving is celebrated.

What is Thanksgiving Day?

The US observes Thanksgiving Day to express gratitude and give thanks for what we have. Friends and families celebrate this day by gathering together for the traditional roasted turkey with accompaniments like stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy, and pumpkin pie. It is a day to express gratitude for the blessings in life and to share joy with loved ones.

When is Thanksgiving Day Observed?

In the U.S., the 4th Thursday was decided to celebrate this special day. However, In Canada, this day is held on the Second Monday of October. 28 Nov will be the day of the Thanksgiving celebration in 2024. On this day people get together and show their respect for the year’s harvest and enjoy the meal. This is the time when people take a break from their daily work, reflect on what they are thankful for, and spend time with their loved ones.

The History of Thanksgiving Day

The origin of Thanksgiving Day dates back to the early 1600s, and the first Thanksgiving Day dates back to 1621, when the Pilgrims held a feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts, with the Wampanoag Native Americans to share happiness as they had a successful harvest season. In history, this was recognized as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations ever in the United States. However, it is said that the first-ever Thanksgiving took place in the year 1598, in Texas. In fact, the origin of Thanksgiving in Canada dates back to 1578 when he led an appreciation meal for a safe passage to the New World.

Over the years Thanksgiving became a national holiday in many countries including the U.S. and Canada. It was declared a federal holiday in 1863 during the Civil War by President Abraham Lincoln in the United States for unity and gratitude.

Why is Thanksgiving Day Observed on Thursday?

There is a long story behind the celebration of Thanksgiving on Thursday. It originated when American settlers held harvest celebrations. Other historians say that America’s settlers had held the first Thanksgiving feast as early as 1565.

President George Washington defined the 26th of Nov as National Thanksgiving Day. Later on, President Abraham Lincoln organized the holiday on the last Thursday of November, which was in the month of November in 1863. This was when President Franklin Roosevelt declared the fourth Thursday in November as the official date to celebrate Thanksgiving Day in 1941.

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Thanksgiving Around the World

Although Thanksgiving is mainly observed in the U.S. and Canada, other parts of the world have similar traditions:

  • Erntedankfest, Germany:

    A Christian thanksgiving festival, which celebrates the harvest.

  • Chuseok, South Korea:

    The largest of the autumn harvest festivals, where families get together and honor their ancestors. These festivals reflect common themes of gratitude, family, and abundance.

How Thanksgiving is Celebrated

People in different regions have their own style of celebrating Thanksgiving, but some traditions are similar in this celebration. Some of the traditions followed on Thanksgiving Day in most homes are mentioned below:

  • Thanksgiving Feast

    The Thanksgiving meal is the center of the celebration. Without a proper Thanksgiving meal, something seems to be missing. The Thanksgiving feast usually consists of:

  • Turkey:

    For all those non-vegetarians who love to savor chicken, Turkey is the center of attraction in the Thanksgiving feast, which is either baked or roasted.

  • Stuffing:

    Before the turkey is served it is stuffed with a yummy mixture of bread, corn onions, herbs, dried cranberries, and vegetables that were cooked. Once it has been cooked all its flavors come out deliciously.

  • Cranberry sauce:

    Similar to chutney in India Cranberry is a kind of sauce for the turkey that has a sweet and tangy flavor in it.

  • Mashed Potatoes and Gravy:

    Once the turkey is out of the oven, the gravy can be prepared. The flavors of the creamy mashed potatoes are complemented by accompanying gravy too.

  • Pumpkin Pie:

    This Pumpkin pie is a classic dessert which completes the dinner. This is the special day when all family members come together, share food, and give thanks for all the graces of the year.

  • Parades

    Multiple cities organize Parades in their place as a celebration of Thanksgiving Day. One of the most famous Thanksgiving Parade is the New York City Thanksgiving Parade. Colorful balloons, floats, and marching bands can be seen on this day.

  • Viewing Football

    They’re a fun way to cheer for your favorite team and a great way to pass the time while waiting for the feast. After all, you’ll want to save your appetite for the delicious Thanksgiving dinner ahead!

  • Cooking

    Preparing a Thanksgiving meal takes time—sometimes hours or even days—depending on the dishes and the number of guests. Cooking the turkey alone takes about 20 minutes per pound, which means the largest birds can spend nearly five hours in the oven!

  • Spending Time with Family

    Whether it's playing board games, sharing stories, or just chilling, Thanksgiving is all about connecting with loved ones.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving is not just about enjoying the holiday and sharing a meal, it’s about showing respect towards what we have, admiring the people you have, and sharing love with them. Sharing a meal with everyone offers you an opportunity to share your little joy with your people.

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