Thanksgiving Day is a popular holiday held on the fourth Thursday of November which is a combination of gratitude, unity and giving. The history, meaning and traditions of this holiday are considerably different from most of the other holidays and its essence is in the fact that it unites families and communities.
Historical Background
Thanksgiving has its roots back in the early seventeenth century where Pilgrims and Native Americans sat down to a feast in order to give thanks for the harvest and to give thanks for their cooperation. The first Thanksgiving that took place in 1621 in Plymouth Massachusetts was a form of reciprocity and thanksgiving between the settlers and the Native American Indians of the Wampanoag tribe.
It was not until 1863, when the United States was in the midst of the Civil War, that President Lincoln called for Thanksgiving as a national event to bring the country together and express gratitude. It has since grown into a national observance of thanksgiving.
Modern Traditions
These are celebrations such as occasions where families consume meals together. Thanksgiving is associated with a grand dinner taken with family and friends.
Traditional dishes include:
Turkey: More frequently than not, the focal point of a meal.
Stuffing: A dish prepared from bread, herbs as well as spices.
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy Cranberry Sauce: A sharp accomplice to the fatty dish.
Pumpkin Pie: A sweet ending to the refection.
Parades and Festivities Cultural ceremonies such as the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York have floats and balloons and live performances that signal the onset of the holiday period.
Football, particularly NFL matches, are always popular, and there is always a Thanksgiving Day NFL match.
Giving Back Volunteering at the food banks or donating to charitable organizations are some of the ways that depict the holiday.
Cultural Significance
Thanksgiving is not just overindulgence; it is a day to be thankful and thus promote thankfulness. Some families share what they are grateful for which strengthens relationships and makes for good memories. To many, it is also a season of giving thanks for the gifts of life and giving back to the society a helping hand.
Global Celebrations of Gratitude
While Thanksgiving is a distinctly American tradition, similar harvest festivals exist worldwide:
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada.
Erntedankfest is a festival observed in Germany to pay gratitude for harvest while Labor Thanksgiving Day or Kinro Kansha no Hi is a Japanese festival to give thanks for labor.
Thanksgiving in the Modern Era
In recent years, Thanksgiving has adapted to modern lifestyles:
Friendsgiving: A social event usually involving young people, which can be of any specific theme or none at all.
Virtual Gatherings: Long distance families usually use video calls to share the moment.
A Time for Reflection
Thanksgiving is a good time to be grateful and count the blessings that we have, and the people that we love. It is a festival of thanksgiving that people of different culture and geographical location come together to give thanks.
May your Thanksgiving be filled with warmth, love, and countless reasons to give thanks!