Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated in various countries, primarily in the United States, Canada, some of the Caribbean islands, and Liberia. It began as a day of giving thanks and sacrifice for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Similarly named festival holidays occur in Germany and Japan. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, and around the same part of the year in other places. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well.

History

The history of Thanksgiving dates back to the early 17th century when the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. This feast lasted three days, and it was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims. The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating "thanksgivings"—days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.

Thanksgiving in the United States

In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition is commonly traced to a sparsely documented 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. In later years, religious thanksgiving services were declared by civil leaders such as Governor Bradford who planned the colony's thanksgiving celebration and fast in 1623. During the 18th century, individual colonies commonly observed days of thanksgiving throughout each year.

President Abraham Lincoln, in the midst of the American Civil War, established a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on the final Thursday in November 1863. The holiday was annually proclaimed by every president thereafter, and the date chosen, with few exceptions, was the last Thursday in November. President Franklin D. Roosevelt briefly moved the holiday up a week in an attempt to spur retail sales during the Great Depression. However, this was met with widespread opposition, and in 1941 the president signed a bill making Thanksgiving Day the fourth Thursday in November.

Thanksgiving in Canada

In Canada, the first Thanksgiving is often traced back to 1578 when Martin Frobisher, an explorer from England in search of the Northwest Passage, held a formal ceremony in what is now Newfoundland to give thanks for surviving the long journey. Other early instances occurred in the 17th century when French settlers, arriving with explorer Samuel de Champlain, in what is now Nova Scotia, held huge feasts of thanks. They also shared their food with the indigenous peoples of the area. As a national holiday, Thanksgiving was first officially declared in 1879, and, since 1957, it has been celebrated on the second Monday in October.

Traditions

Traditionally, Thanksgiving has been a celebration of the blessings of the year, including the harvest. What Americans and Canadians eat for their Thanksgiving meals varies from household to household, but traditional foods include turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Many people also serve pie for dessert at the end of the meal. Common types of pie include pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie.

Cultural Significance

Thanksgiving is a time for people to give thanks for what they have. It is a day for families and friends to get together for a special meal. It is also a time for many people to give back to their community by volunteering to help the less fortunate. Parades, such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and the Toronto Santa Claus Parade in Canada, have become an integral part of the holiday in cities and towns across North America.

Controversies

Despite its widespread popularity, Thanksgiving is not without its controversies, particularly regarding its origins and the historical treatment of indigenous peoples. Some view the holiday as a celebration that glosses over the deep hardships faced by Native American peoples both during the early colonization period and in subsequent years.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving Day is a deeply rooted holiday in North American culture, symbolizing gratitude, family, and community. Despite its complex history and the controversies surrounding it, it remains a significant and cherished holiday, bringing together people of all backgrounds to celebrate the spirit of thankfulness.