Thanksgiving Day in America - 2022

Thanksgiving day is a special day because being grateful is important. No matter how small or big something someone does for you, it’s natural to say thank you. Being thankful does not require to be wealthy. When you show respect and appreciation for something it represents your inner real character.

Importance of Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving day is one of America’s most beloved, popular and highly valued holidays — celebrated each year in November (This year it’s on November 24, 2022). We owe this to the earliest days of the American Revolution, which was founded in 1500 but mythologized in 1621. Civil War veterans observed these days even during the darkest hours. This holiday has more tradition than any other non-sectarian holiday. It’s a rare holiday without a gift-giving component that brings family, friends, food, and football together. The purpose of the day is to encourage people to be grateful for the things they already have.

A Holiday for America

Since 1863, Thanksgiving Day has been observed as a national holiday in the US. It is a holiday for most government offices, businesses, schools, universities, colleges, and other organizations. The day after Thanksgiving is also a holiday for many workplaces and businesses that provide their employees a lengthy four-day weekend for the holiday. Typically, public transportation systems don’t run on their normal schedules on those days. One of the busiest times of year for travel in the USA is around Thanksgiving. Overcrowding and congestion may result from this. Local traffic may also be affected by busy football events and holiday parades.

Along with America, Canada, Grenada, Norfolk Island, Netherland, Puerto Rico (a territory of the United States), Saint Lucia and Liberia celebrates Thanksgiving holiday in different dates. In some places of India like Goa also celebrates the day.

History

Perhaps most of what we know about Thanksgiving today comes from the records of William Bradford, who served as governor of Plymouth, Massachusetts at the time. In his manuscript, Bradford noted that the pilgrims of Plymouth had enjoyed a particularly good harvest in 1621. They planned a feast in celebration in honor of the abundance of the food as well as taking advantage of their good fortune.

Most of the food the pilgrims gathered came from hunting, fishing, and gathering with the Wampanoag natives, who’d taught many of those tactics to them in the first place. As a result, they joined in giving thanks for everything. Considering the tensions between the Wampanoag and pilgrim groups, this peaceful dinner may seem unreliable to some. Nevertheless, it was this concept of two cultures coming together that made the dinner so significant in nation’s history. “Thanksgiving” eventually continued in the United States in that spirit of joining together to give thanks.

Cooking delicious food and enjoying with friends or family is one of the most important aspects of Thanksgiving Day. The Thanksgiving meal is always a big hit with everyone. It includes turkey, mashed potatoes, macaroni, and stuffing. Turkey can be substituted with ham, beef, or salmon by some people. There is also the Thanksgiving Parade, which is a fun part of Thanksgiving. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade has been a part of New York’s culture since 1924. The three-hour-long parade takes from 9am to 12pm in Manhattan.

Different Claims on First Thanksgiving Day

There are claims that beginning of 1970, on this day, a group of Native Americans and their supporters have held an annual protest for a National Day of Mourning at Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts and the first Thanksgiving Day was held in 1598 in the city of El Paso, Texas.

But in the other hand some historians believe that their first actual Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1623 when they were grateful for rain that ended a drought. They believe that in earlier it was not Thanksgiving feast but rather a special church ceremony.

Harvest-related thanksgivings increased in frequency in the second half of the 1600s and began to observed annually. The first president of the United States George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day in 1789.

Thanksgiving Day Dinner Menu

Roasted turkey is the main dish of the menu of the Day. But it can be served with lot of side dishes like Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Cranberry sauce, Pecan Pie, Candied Yams, Potato Rolls, Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Vegetables and many more.

As well as a variety range of drinks can be served on that day like Pumpkin Martini, Apple Cider Margarita, Pear Martini, Cranberry Martini, Pecan Pie Martini, Pomegranate French 75, Pomegranate Sangria, Earl Grey Tea Cocktail, spiced cranberry punch, Cranberry Cobbler Smash, Pomegranate Prosecco Sparkler and the list is endless. Enjoying delicious food and drinks with family and friends is a popular way to celebrate the day.

Shopping Ideas for Home Decoration

Now a days shopping is just “A piece of cake”. Those days are gone when people used to roam for the whole day and buy items for daily life. Online stores are offering each and every item with huge discount in a convenient way. Just think and can buy anything by sitting and relaxing at home only. To decorate the house of course shopping is the most essential part to do for this day. Starting from crockery to wine glasses, Curtains, Bed Cover, Sofa cover, Table Runner, Diffusers, Flower vase, Candles, Rugs anything and everything needed people can buy.

For that reason, one can definitely check in below mentioned sites online or offline for the best deals.