Thanksgiving began in the early 17th century when Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated a successful harvest with a three-day feast, marking the holiday's origin.
1. Origin and History Of Thanksgiving:
The inaugural Thanksgiving happened in November 1621 at Plymouth, Massachusetts, attended by Pilgrims and Wampanoag Native Americans. The feast showcased turkey, venison, seafood, and more.
2. First Thanksgiving:
Thanksgiving, initially a regional celebration, became a U.S. national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln declared it a day of "Thanksgiving and Praise" amid the Civil War.
3. National Holiday:
Turkey is the focal point of Thanksgiving meals, with approximately 46 million consumed annually in the United States.
4. Traditional Turkey:
The iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC began in 1924, showcasing giant balloons, floats, bands, and performances, watched by millions in person and on TV.
5. Parades:
Watching Thanksgiving Day football has become a family tradition. The NFL typically schedules games on this day, bringing families together around the TV to enjoy the matches.
6. Football Tradition:
Since 1947, the U.S. President receives a live turkey in a ceremonial "pardon," sparing it from becoming Thanksgiving dinner and allowing it to live on a farm.
7. Pardon the Turkey:
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is a major shopping day, signaling the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season with retailers offering significant discounts.
8. Black Friday:
In the U.S., Thanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday of November, while in Canada, it's on the second Monday of October. Both celebrate gratitude for the harvest and blessings.
9. Canadian Thanksgiving:
Various global cultures have harvest thanksgiving celebrations, like China's Mid-Autumn Festival, Korea's Chuseok, and Germany's Erntedankfest.