Everything You Need to Know about Thanksgiving & Its History

If you only know Thanksgiving day as an annual national holiday , this article will change your perception. Is Thanksgiving only celebrated in the US? It is not only celebrated in the United States but also in many other countries such as Canada, Liberia, and Brazil. This is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year in the United States and the second Monday of October in Canada. In Germany and Japan, a similarly named festival is celebrated.

 

Is Thanksgiving an American holiday? This was declared a national holiday in the United States in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. But why exactly is Thanksgiving celebrated? In this article, you will learn about thanksgiving, what countries celebrate thanksgiving, and why thanksgiving is important.

 

Its history dates back to 1620 when a group of religious separatists sailed across seas in search of a world where they could practice their beliefs freely. They traveled in a ship named ‘Mayflower’ and reached current-day Massachusetts. They chose Plymouth Harbor for accommodation, hence later it came to be known as ‘the village of Plymouth’. Most of the newly-arrived travelers stayed in the ship they arrived at. They all were struggling to adapt to the new climate and circumstances. A member of the Native American Patuxet tribe called Squanto acted as a guide to the settlers at Plymouth. He made the people learn skills such as hunting and agriculture in order to fit into their new environment. He formed an alliance between the European and the Native Americans. It has always been a big mystery when it comes to where the first Thanksgiving celebration was held in the United States. But it is believed that they celebrated a feast that lasted for three days for their first harvest of the past year. This is what we now celebrate around the world as Thanksgiving. In this celebration, many Wampanoag tribe members participated.

 

Turkey is usually served on Thanksgiving ceremonies, but whether or not the first Thanksgiving has had Turkey is unknown. They also bought items from their harvests such as nuts, beans, and pumpkins.

 

The thanksgiving meal typically includes potatoes, pumpkin pie, bread stuffing, cranberries, and turkey. On this day, families gather together to celebrate and are considered the busiest holiday of the year. This year, it is celebrated on November, 26 in the United States.

Thanksgiving Day in Canada

Many historians believe that the first Thanksgiving in North America occurred during the 1578 voyage of Martin Frobisher from England. But Thanksgiving day in Canada did not have a fixed date until the 19th century. In Canada, the first official Thanksgiving Day was celebrated on April 15, 1872. At the end of the 19th century, November 6 was accepted as Thanksgiving day.

 

What Is Thanksgiving All About?

 

What is thanksgiving for? One thing that strikes our mind when we think of Thanksgiving is Turkey. Around 85 to 91% of Americans eat turkey on this day. It is also referred to as ‘Turkey Day’. The day is mostly spent with their family and friends. They gather around and five thanks to the things they feel fortunate for. Many local Thanksgiving events are often televised. Another important fact is the National Football League has played a game on Thanksgiving day every year since its inception. The day after Thanksgiving day became widely known as ‘Black Friday’ and on this day, you can receive huge offers and discounts in shops.

 

Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving? Giving thanks to God for whatever they received during the harvest helped them sustain through the winter was the motto of the first Thanksgiving. This tradition has been followed ever since but now it is celebrated to thank god for perceived blessings.