Thanksgiving Day

THANKSGIVING DAY – Fourth Thursday in November

THANKSGIVING DAY
Thanksgiving Day is observed each year in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. The observance is a time when families and friends gather and give thanks for many reasons, each often as different as each person who gathers around the table.

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that many acknowledge today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. However, it wasn’t until 1863, amid the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

How to Observe Thanksgiving
In many American households, the Thanksgiving celebration has lost much of its original religious significance; instead, it now centers on cooking and sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends. The pilgrims may not have even served turkey that fateful day in 1621. Today, however, the bird is so ubiquitous, it has become synonymous with the holiday. In fact, nearly 90 percent of Americans eat the bird—whether roasted, baked or deep-fried—on Thanksgiving, according to the National Turkey Federation. Other traditional foods include stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Another common Thanksgiving tradition is volunteering to ensure everyone has a meal on the big day. Some communities often host food drives and free dinners for the less fortunate.