Thanksgiving Day
The 4th Thursday of November
The feast of Thanksgiving usually lasts 4 days. The feast begins on Thursday and Americans then take off the Friday after that and continue celebrating into the weekend. During this time they go and visit friends and family. The holiday was first celebrated in 1621 by colonists who came to the shores of America on the Mayflower (ship). The colonists did not have enough food or warm clothes. They brought with them a different culture that resulted in them not being accustomed to their unfamiliar environment. After a harsh winter when they lost almost half of their new colony, they appealed to the neighboring Indian tribes for help. The tribes taught them to plant corn and other crops. In the following autumn, the colonists had a rich harvest and it inspired them to celebrate Thus, Thanksgiving. The Feast of Thanksgiving Day has become a national tradition, not only because many Americans have achieved prosperity, but also because the first colonists were victims of deprivation and suffered for our freedom. Nowadays, Thanksgiving dinner includes many of the dishes that the very first colonists had: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Before the dinner begins, a moment of silence is usually had to recognize what everyone is “grateful” for.
The Thanksgiving Day is also celebrated not only as a mark of recognition to the native Indians for enlightening the pilgrims about the different aspects of foods, but also as a gesture of reverence for the Lord. Since this is also the time for traditional harvest, it is also the time of feast. People also pass on gifts to their other members of the family and friends. Jewelry, chocolate, cakes; choicest of wines are some of the popular gifts that are exchanged during the celebration. The Thanksgiving Day heralds in the Christmas season and the next Friday after it is regarded as the ‘Black Friday’, which signifies the writing of profit book in black ink. The Thanksgiving Day is also brings in an increase in the business for the shopkeepers and merchants due to the festivities. Hence, the name has been coined as such. During the time, people visit friends and families, dine at the restaurants, enjoy at the amusement parks, beach and other places of fun and amusement. They also decorate their houses with lightings and flowers.
Ever since it first inception in 1621, the Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated in America with lot of fervor and jest.