Throughout different countries and cultures, people come together to give thanks for the blessings that they have received. One of the most common reasons for such gatherings is to give thanks for a bountiful harvest season. It is observed in many European and Asian countries whose main livelihood is by farming and cultivating the land. Thanksgiving is also done after events when people go through challenging times and come out alive and well.
American Thanksgiving
Compared to Europe and Asia, America is a relatively young country. However, they have their own thanksgiving holiday, and is possibly one that is well recognized all over the world. It is also one of the most important holidays in the United States and it marks the start of the holiday season that includes Christmas and ends with the coming of the New Year.
Thanksgiving 2013
In 2013, Thanksgiving will fall on November 28.
Historical Roots
Modern day Thanksgiving is widely attributed to the celebration held in 1621 at Plymouth by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. This first gathering was said to held after the first harvest in the New World, and many of the prepared foods were taken off the surrounding land.
Thanksgiving was officially declared as a national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared that the date of the holiday should be annually celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. However, some accounts show that President George Washington proclaimed in 1789 the first national celebration of Thanksgiving.
This Thanksgiving holiday is mostly secular, and is celebrated in Canada, Puerto Rico and Norfolk. Most government and public offices as well as schools, businesses and organizations are closed on Thanksgiving Day. Expect regular traffic and travel to be disrupted.
Food Fest
Like many gatherings of thanksgiving, the American Thanksgiving is known for its lavish feast. Pilgrim community leader and first thanksgiving attendee Edward Winslow noted in a letter the food that was prepared and served during that first gathering. Among of these are barely, corn, wild turkey and venison. The crops were grown by the people, and the fowl was hunted and prepared from the wild.
These days, people prepare all sorts of dishes for Thanksgiving dinner. These are mostly based on personal preferences and personal traditions. Immigrants bring in their own dishes and add it to the ones that are traditional to the American celebration. Of course, central dishes in this feast are turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce, vegetable dishes and the like. For dessert, there’s always pumpkin pie. These represent the dishes that were served all those years ago.
Unusual Traditions
It’s interesting to note that America has quirky traditions when it comes to Thanksgiving. Each year, two turkeys receive a presidential pardon, therefore saving them from being served on the dinner table. This has been a longstanding tradition, and its origins have been quite forgotten.
Thanksgiving Parade
In most parts of the country, Thanksgiving is celebrated with a parade. However, one of the most well-known and much anticipated parades is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Conceptualized in the 1920s by immigrant employees of Macy’s department store, it was initially meant for them to show their appreciation for their adopted country. Over the years, more participants joined in the parade. Over a million people watch it along the streets of Manhattan, while an additional four million or so watch it from the comforts of their homes as seen on national television.
Not Celebrating Thanksgiving
Despite its popularity, Thanksgiving is not celebrated by everyone in America. Since 1970, a group of Native Americans along with their supporters stage a protest on this day. It is called a National Day of Mourning and happens at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts.
American Indian Heritage Day
American Indian Heritage Day or Native American Heritage Day is celebrated the Friday after Thanksgiving. This is an annual holiday that recognizes the culture and heritage of the native Americans, as well as their contributions to the country.
Shopping Season
Because of its proximity to Christmas, Thanksgiving also marks the start of the Christmas season. The Friday after Thanksgiving is also known to the retailers as Black Friday. Here, shops and stores have special offers on their wares, and many of their products can be bought at discounted prices. This day is often a non-working day, thus making Thanksgiving a four-day long holiday for most people.
The American Thanksgiving has a long history and closely ties the people through tradition and culture. Over the years it has grown and adapted to the country’s dynamic people, but the core of it stays the same. Thanksgiving is coming together with family, friends and the community in gratitude for the blessings received in the past year.
