Thanksgiving Day, traditionally, is a special day for showing one’s gratitude to God for providing the community with a good harvest. Food is a basic element required for sustenance, so this day allows people to appreciate it. Many cultures throughout the world have some kind of ‘Harvest Festival’ or the other. Thanksgiving Day celebrated in the USA in particular, is a well-recognized and popular holiday. It is associated with spending time with the family, enjoying good food, and of course relaxing and having fun.
Origin
Since time immemorial, making offerings and praying so as to appease the higher powers, in order to get a good harvest are probably some of the oldest rituals followed by different groups of people of different cultures, living in different places. Naturally, if it all paid off at the end, a celebratory ‘thanksgiving’ ceremony or festival followed.
The first celebration of Thanksgiving in the United States is believed to have been in 1621. It was done originally by the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony. It is said that they held a three-day feast in celebration of the ample harvest they got after settling in North America.
The festival got official recognition only on November 1941 when it was exclusively approved by a joint resolution of Congress as the fourth Thursday of November. In USA, it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year.
What do people do on Thanksgiving Day in America?
People today may not eat the exact same things that the pilgrims and the Native Americans ate together in 1621, but food remains one of the most important aspects of this festival. Families gathering to enjoy large, lavish meals are a hallmark of this holiday. Things that can be found on the dining table for the special Thanksgiving dinner include turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, some form of corn, assorted vegetables, and side dishes, and pumpkin/pecan pie as dessert.
Other things that people do include: going to church, organizing special events and competitions, watching sporting events like football, etc. Since 1924, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a popular Thanksgiving Day event.
How does the world celebrate Thanksgiving?
Harvest Festivals are common occurrences the world over.
Canada: Thanksgiving in Canada is very similar to the one celebrated in USA, with variations in the dates.
United Kingdom: Here, around late September/October, special services are held at the local churches to celebrate Thanksgiving day.
China: Zhong Qui is China’s harvest festival, where friends and relatives gift moon cakes to each other, and celebrate a good harvest.
India: Pongal is the harvest festival, where the God Indra is given special offerings by the people. A special dish called sakkarai pongal is made on the second day and offered to the Sun god. On the third day, farmers show their gratitude to their cattle by painting and decorating them.
Thanksgiving Day Gifts
Exotic Flowers to Feel Good
If you wish to surprise your dear ones this Thanksgiving Day, then get fresh flowers home delivered. Go for fresh seasonal flowers like lilies, and orchids. Flowers convey a very special spirit when given as Thanksgiving Day gifts.
Keep in mind that the flowers should be fresh when delivered. There are many reliable online sites that provide a great variety of pink and rare lilac orchids and other fresh flowers.
Cakes
Special cakes and pies that bakers make for thanksgiving are also popular and traditional gifts. Chocolates are also on the list but chocolates aren’t conventional and are not the kind of gift you can generally send to neighbors because they are more closely associated with Valentine’s Day as opposed to thanksgiving.
