Image Credit: Hanna Peters
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated by different countries at various times, but most famously in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November and in Canada on the second Monday of October.
It is a time to express gratitude for blessings such as harvest, health, and family, often with large feasts and family gatherings. The American Thanksgiving is linked to the 1621 harvest feast between the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people, but its observance has become a broader national holiday to express gratitude for the past year’s bounty and blessings.
Origins and History
First Thanksgiving: The American holiday is often associated with the 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists and the Wampanoag people in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Presidential Proclamation: In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.
Federal Holiday: The U.S. Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of November as a national holiday in 1941.
Traditions
Family Gatherings: Thanksgiving is a day for families to come together, leading to a large amount of travel on the day before the holiday.
Traditional Feast: Families enjoy a large meal, often including turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.
Reflection: It’s a time to reflect on the positive things in life, such as family, friends, and health.
Thanksgiving Parades: The holiday is marked by parades, with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade being a prominent example.
Controversy
Historical Perspectives: While the holiday is celebrated for harvest and gratitude, it is also a time to acknowledge the complex history of the relationship between European settlers and Native Americans, with some viewing the celebration as masking historical oppression and bloodshed.
Thanksgiving 2025
Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States, and this year it falls on Thursday, November 27th.
Image Source: Freepik- pikisuperstar
This was written by our contributing writer, Duet Mlotshwa.
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