Thanksgiving Day: Meaning, History, and Facts
Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday in the United States and Canada that honors the harvest and other blessings of the past year.
Origins and History
Americans typically link their Thanksgiving to a 1621 harvest feast shared by the Plymouth European colonists (Pilgrims) and the Wampanoag people.
Colonists in New England and Canada historically observed “thanksgivings” as days of prayer for blessings such as safe journeys, military victories, or plentiful harvests.
Canadians trace their earliest Thanksgiving celebration to 1578, when Martin Frobisher’s expedition gave thanks for a safe passage.
Modern Celebrations
- In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is observed on the fourth Thursday in November, according to a 1941 joint Congressional resolution and a proclamation by President Franklin D.
- Since 1957, Canada has celebrated Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October.
- Both countries gather family and friends for a meal and celebrations.
Traditional Foods
Typical American Thanksgiving meals often include turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin pie.
"Americans model their holiday on a 1621 harvest feast shared between the Wampanoag people and the English colonists known as Pilgrims."
Author’s summary: Thanksgiving Day brings family and friends together to honor gratitude through traditions rooted in historical harvest celebrations in the US and Canada.