Thanksgiving is traditionally a holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada. It is a harvest festival to express gratitude dating back to 1621 when the Pilgrims had a feast that lasted three days. In Canada Thanksgiving is the second Monday of October and in the United States the fourth Thursday of November. The United States has celebrated this tradition since 1863 and in 1941 it became a federal holiday. Family and friends gather over a large Thanksgiving dinner.
A traditional meal consists of turkey and stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole, and pumpkin pie for dessert. Usually more food than you serve at a regular meal. Other traditions include watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live from New York. Macy’s department store sponsors the parade and has for 75 years with the march down 34th Street featuring floats, balloons and marching bands. Don’t forget the football games! Three NFL games will be played on Thanksgiving Day featuring the Packers vs. Lions; Raiders vs. Cowboys and the Giants vs. Broncos. Thanksgiving also officially ends with Black Friday, the official first day of Christmas shopping where the stores open at 6 a.m. with the best sale prices offered early in the morning.
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching we should stop and be thankful for what we have. Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best: For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends.
Comments (0):