TheTraditionofThanksgivinginAmerica
ThanksgivingisawidelycelebratedholidayintheUnitedStates,whichfallsonthefourthThursdayofNovembereveryyear.ThisdayisanopportunityforAmericanstogivethanksfortheirblessingsandtospendtimewithlovedones.Theholidayhasalongandfascinatinghistory,whichisworthexploring.
TheOriginsofThanksgiving
ThefirstThanksgivingcanbetracedbackto1621,whenthePilgrimsofPlymouthColonyheldafeasttocelebratetheirfirstsuccessfulharvestinthenewworld.Thisfeastlastedforthreedaysandwasattendedbyapproximately50NativeAmericans,whohadhelpedthePilgrimsthroughtheirdifficultfirstyear.Theeventwasnotanannualholidayatthetime,butwasratheraone-timecelebrationtomarktheendofaparticularlyfruitfulsummer.
TheEvolutionofThanksgiving
Thanksgivingbecameanofficialholidayin1863,duringtheCivilWar.PresidentAbrahamLincolndeclaredthelastThursdayinNovembertobeanationaldayof\"ThanksgivingandPraisetoourbeneficentFatherwhodwellethintheHeavens.\"TheholidaywasinfluencedbythePuritanidealsofgratitudeandhardwork,aswellastheabundantharvestsofthetime.
Overtheyears,theholidayhasexpandedtoincludefootballgames,parades,andthefamousMacy'sThanksgivingDayParadeinNewYorkCity.Itisalsoapopulardayforshopping,withBlackFridaybeingthedayafterThanksgivingandmarkingtheofficialstartoftheChristmasshoppingseason.
TheCelebrationofThanksgivingToday
Today,Thanksgivingiscelebratedinvariouswaysthroughoutthecountry.ManyfamiliesspendthedaypreparingandfeastingontraditionalThanksgivingfoodssuchasturkey,stuffing,andpumpkinpie.Somevolunteeratsoupkitchensorhomelessshelterstohelpthoseinneed.Otherswatchfootballgamesontelevisionorvisitfriendsandfamily.Regardlessofhowitiscelebrated,ThanksgivingremainsabelovedholidaythatunitesAmericansintheirgratitudeforlife'sblessings.
Inconclusion,ThanksgivingisasignificantholidayinAmericanculturethatbringspeopletogethertoexpressthanksandcelebratelife'sblessings.ItsrootsgobacktotheearlydaysofAmericanhistory,andithasevolvedtobecomeauniquelyAmericantradition.Itservesasaremindertoappreciatethegoodthingsinlifeandtogivebacktoothersinneed.
