THANKSGIVING
THANKSGIVING
THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is a typical celebration of American culture that takes place on the fourth Thursday in
November and kicks off the end-of-the-year holiday season. The tradition is to meet with family and
friends to share a dinner in which they are grateful for different reasons.
Thanksgiving is considered the most universal celebration on the American calendar, since it is not
linked to any religion or belief.
The beginnings
The tradition of celebrating it commemorates when in 1621, in Plymouth (Massachusetts), a group
of Native Indians rescued a group of settlers. The Indians showed them how to grow their own food
and in the fall the settlers offered a celebration where they shared their food.
From that moment, it became the custom each year to hold a harvest festival where all the families
of the colony met to give thanks and share dinner.
A controversial celebration
Between 1630 and 1642 (almost a decade after the first Thanksgiving) the British arrived with the
intention of taking over the lands of the Pequot tribe, unleashing violent battles that caused the
death of thousands of natives and the displacement of many others. That is why, for much of the
indigenous community, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning.
The fall celebration always took place on different days until, in 1789, George Washington decreed
that Thanksgiving was to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26 throughout the country. In 1863,
President Abraham Lincoln decreed that it be held on the last Thursday in November, and finally,
Congress decreed that Thanksgiving be celebrated every fourth Thursday in November, to avoid
problems when the month had five Thursdays.
What is dinner?
The typical dinner par excellence is turkey accompanied by dishes such as baked potatoes, salad,
purees and pumpkin, apple or walnut pies.
Thanksgiving today
Families and friends get together and parades with floats and large hot air balloons of different
characters take place on the main avenues. Football games and seasonal specials are broadcast
on television, and at night people are looking forward to Black Friday.
Traditions are the basis for the cultural identity of any country. Knowing the origin of them and how
they influence their society will open up your world and give you the opportunity to understand their
culture and the ability to relate more closely with people.
Thanksgiving was not held every year. In fact, it was not until June 1676 that another day of
Thanksgiving was held. Thanksgiving was officially proclaimed by President Lincoln in 1863 to be
celebrated the last Thursday in November. In 1941, Thanksgiving was declared a legal holiday by
the United States Congress to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. As you celebrate
Thanksgiving this year, talk about the foods you prepare for the holiday and how they are the same
or different from the foods eaten at the first Thanksgiving. Corn Corn was a very important crop for
the pilgrims and the native Indians. It was the main food and was eaten at every meal. There were
many varieties of corn – white, blue, yellow and red. Some of the corn was dried to preserve and
keep it for food throughout the winter months. Corn was often ground into corn meal. Corn meal
could be used to make cornbread, corn pudding, corn syrup or could be mixed with beans to make
succotash. Corn was unknown to the pilgrims before they met the Indians. Indians gave them seeds
and taught them how to grow it. Today we grow more acres of corn than any other grain.
In 1789, shortly after the thirteen colonies were united, President George Washington presented an
agreement to Congress to celebrate a national day of "giving thanks and public prayer."
The resolution was approved on November 26, 1789. From that moment on, the first National
Thanksgiving Day was celebrated.
In the corresponding proclamation George Washington invited Americans to thank God for his
protection, for the victory in the struggle, freedom, peace and prosperity in the new country.
In 1846, Sarah Hale, editor of Godey's Lady Book, a women's magazine, launched a campaign to
make Thanksgiving a great national holiday. Today, Thanksgiving is still a celebration during which
American families come together to share the fruits of a bountiful harvest and to thank God for his
blessings on their lands.
When was Thanksgiving proclaimed to be the fourth
Thursday in November?
On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation regarding this important
holiday. As of his mandate, the Thanksgiving Day began to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of
November.
Personal Contribution
I consider that thanksgiving celebrations can be celebrated anywhere and not only in the United
States, over time it has evolved, I think it is a very important celebration and tradition since it aims to
give thanks for everything we have I personally believe that giving thanks is important since we
must be grateful for everything we receive such as health, family and the food we consume.