Thanksgiving
Last updated: 24 Nov 2025
The Thanksgiving Festival, or the Day of Giving Thanks to God, is one of the most significant celebrations in the United States. It takes place every year on the fourth Thursday of November (this year on November 27) to commemorate the abundance of the harvest and to express gratitude to God for His blessings and the good events of the year.
On this day, people across the nation travel back home to spend time with their families and share a grand meal together. The centerpiece of this feast is roast turkey, accompanied by various side dishes. After dinner, many families enjoy watching football games or attending the large-scale Thanksgiving parades held in major cities across the country.
The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the year-end shopping season Black Friday when retailers nationwide launch massive discount sales. This week has thus become a season of happiness, warmth, and celebration for American families.
A year earlier, in 1620, the Pilgrims had sailed from England to North America aboard the Mayflower, seeking religious freedom and a new life in an unfamiliar land. However, they faced a harsh winter and severe food shortages, which resulted in only half of the passengers surviving that first year.
By the following autumn, the Pilgrims crops flourished for the first time. In gratitude, they organized a feast of thanksgiving to celebrate their survival and prosperity. They invited members of the Wampanoag tribe, the Native Americans who had taught them how to cultivate crops and hunt in the new land, to join in the celebration.
The feast lasted three full days, marking what is recognized as the first Thanksgiving in American history a symbol of gratitude, cooperation, and sharing that continues to be honored today.
At that first feast, roast turkey was served as the main dish, as turkeys were native to America and easily found in the wild. Over time, the turkey came to symbolize abundance and prosperity, becoming the enduring emblem of the Thanksgiving holiday.
President Lincolns proclamation was inspired by Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer and influential editor who campaigned for years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. She believed the day would bring Americans together in gratitude and reflection, transcending regional and political differences.
In 1941, the U.S. Congress passed an act officially designating the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day, a federal holiday to be celebrated each year. Since then, Thanksgiving has stood as one of Americas most cherished national holidays a time when families reunite to celebrate gratitude, love, and togetherness.
At the center of every table is the turkey, the unmistakable symbol of Thanksgiving. Each year, more than 40 million turkeys are consumed across the country on this day, and around 85% of Americans partake in eating turkey, earning Thanksgiving the affectionate nickname Turkey Day.
There are many ways to prepare turkey, but the most traditional is roasting, which yields tender, juicy meat infused with the aroma of herbs. Some families stuff their turkeys with bread-based stuffing seasoned with herbs and dried fruits before roasting, while others especially in the southern United States prefer deep-frying the bird for a crispier skin and a distinctive texture.
One growing trend is Friendsgiving, where groups of friends often living far from family gather to celebrate and give thanks together. This modern adaptation reflects the changing lifestyles of urban communities while preserving the holidays core message of connection and gratitude.
Thanksgiving has also become a season of giving back. Many people choose this time to volunteer, donate food or money, and support charitable organizations that help those in need. It is a moment to reflect on kindness and community.
Across the United States, cities and towns are filled with warmth and compassion during this season. Parades, community feasts, and local charity drives provide opportunities for everyone regardless of background or circumstance to come together in gratitude, generosity, and celebration.
On this day, people across the nation travel back home to spend time with their families and share a grand meal together. The centerpiece of this feast is roast turkey, accompanied by various side dishes. After dinner, many families enjoy watching football games or attending the large-scale Thanksgiving parades held in major cities across the country.
The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the year-end shopping season Black Friday when retailers nationwide launch massive discount sales. This week has thus become a season of happiness, warmth, and celebration for American families.
The Origins of Thanksgiving
The history of Thanksgiving traces back to 1621, when a group of English settlers known as the Pilgrims celebrated their first successful harvest in the New World at Plymouth, in the present-day state of Massachusetts.A year earlier, in 1620, the Pilgrims had sailed from England to North America aboard the Mayflower, seeking religious freedom and a new life in an unfamiliar land. However, they faced a harsh winter and severe food shortages, which resulted in only half of the passengers surviving that first year.
By the following autumn, the Pilgrims crops flourished for the first time. In gratitude, they organized a feast of thanksgiving to celebrate their survival and prosperity. They invited members of the Wampanoag tribe, the Native Americans who had taught them how to cultivate crops and hunt in the new land, to join in the celebration.
The feast lasted three full days, marking what is recognized as the first Thanksgiving in American history a symbol of gratitude, cooperation, and sharing that continues to be honored today.
At that first feast, roast turkey was served as the main dish, as turkeys were native to America and easily found in the wild. Over time, the turkey came to symbolize abundance and prosperity, becoming the enduring emblem of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Thanksgiving Becomes a National Holiday
During the American Civil War in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln officially proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a National Day of Thanksgiving, encouraging all citizens to give thanks to God. The declaration also served as a unifying gesture a call for peace, hope, and reconciliation during one of the most divided periods in U.S. history.President Lincolns proclamation was inspired by Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer and influential editor who campaigned for years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. She believed the day would bring Americans together in gratitude and reflection, transcending regional and political differences.
In 1941, the U.S. Congress passed an act officially designating the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day, a federal holiday to be celebrated each year. Since then, Thanksgiving has stood as one of Americas most cherished national holidays a time when families reunite to celebrate gratitude, love, and togetherness.
Traditional Thanksgiving Foods and Their Meanings
The Thanksgiving table is prepared with care and filled with dishes that have been passed down through generations. Each dish carries symbolic meaning and reflects the American cultural emphasis on family, unity, and home-cooked warmth.At the center of every table is the turkey, the unmistakable symbol of Thanksgiving. Each year, more than 40 million turkeys are consumed across the country on this day, and around 85% of Americans partake in eating turkey, earning Thanksgiving the affectionate nickname Turkey Day.
There are many ways to prepare turkey, but the most traditional is roasting, which yields tender, juicy meat infused with the aroma of herbs. Some families stuff their turkeys with bread-based stuffing seasoned with herbs and dried fruits before roasting, while others especially in the southern United States prefer deep-frying the bird for a crispier skin and a distinctive texture.
Typical side dishes that accompany the turkey include:
- Mashed potatoes topped with rich turkey gravy
- Sweet potato mash, often baked with marshmallows or pecans
- Soft, buttery dinner rolls, served warm alongside turkey slices
- Corn, an essential American crop since the Pilgrims era
- Cranberry sauce, which adds a refreshing tartness that complements the savory turkey
- Pumpkin Pie
- Pecan Pie
- Apple Pie
The Spirit of Thanksgiving: Gratitude and Giving
At its heart, Thanksgiving represents gratitude and generosity values deeply rooted in American culture. While the holiday originated from the Pilgrims religious and cultural traditions, it has evolved into a celebration that embraces the diversity and inclusiveness of modern American society.One growing trend is Friendsgiving, where groups of friends often living far from family gather to celebrate and give thanks together. This modern adaptation reflects the changing lifestyles of urban communities while preserving the holidays core message of connection and gratitude.
Thanksgiving has also become a season of giving back. Many people choose this time to volunteer, donate food or money, and support charitable organizations that help those in need. It is a moment to reflect on kindness and community.
Across the United States, cities and towns are filled with warmth and compassion during this season. Parades, community feasts, and local charity drives provide opportunities for everyone regardless of background or circumstance to come together in gratitude, generosity, and celebration.
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