Thanksgiving, the most awaited holiday of the year, is about to begin. Thanksgiving is an ancient festival that has been celebrated for centuries, providing a time for families to enjoy a hearty meal together and give thanks for life's blessings and nature's abundance. This beloved holiday, with its strong foundation in thankfulness and togetherness, has a long history and carries distinct importance in both the United States and Canada.
Thanksgiving 2024: Date
Thanksgiving is observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November. This year, Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated on Thursday, November 28, 2024.
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Thanksgiving 2024: History
Thanksgiving in the US originates from a harvest gathering in 1621 where Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe celebrated together. Thanksgiving ceremonies were held in North America before, like Martin Frobisher's 1578 ceremony in Canada. Native American tribes also held festivities to mark the harvesting season.
Pilgrims celebrated a second Thanksgiving in 1623 to commemorate the conclusion of a dry spell. In 1817, New York implemented a yearly Thanksgiving celebration. In 1863, President Lincoln declared it a national holiday while the Civil War was ongoing. Thanksgiving was declared official in Canada in 1957 and is observed on the second Monday of October. In both nations, these holidays focus on fostering togetherness, appreciation, and honoring the harvest season.
Thanksgiving celebrations with loved ones | Pinterest
Thanksgiving 2024: Significance
Thanksgiving revolves around appreciation and coming together to celebrate unity and plenty. Although it originally began as a celebration of the harvest and giving thanks to nature for its abundance, the festival has transformed into a contemporary celebration centered around appreciating family, health, and success. Thanksgiving is a time when many Indigenous communities observe their cultural traditions and recognize the historical impacts of colonization.
Thanksgiving 2024: Celebration Ritual
When families gather, they fully immerse themselves in the happiness of participating in different Thanksgiving customs such as eating a special meal with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Families come together to watch parades, like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, and partake in football games. For a lot of people, the holiday means participating in volunteering to help those in need.
