🦃

Thanksgiving

✨ The harvest feast

Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated mainly in the United States and Canada as a time to express gratitude and gather with family and friends. Although both countries observe Thanksgiving, they celebrate it on different dates. In Canada, it falls on the second Monday of October, while in the United States it is observed on the fourth Thursday of November.

The modern holiday has historical roots linked to harvest festivals and public days of thanksgiving. Over time, it has evolved into an important cultural tradition centered on sharing meals, spending time together, and reflecting on the past year.

A traditional Thanksgiving meal often includes roast turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, although the menu varies from one family to another. In the United States, many communities also organize parades, volunteer activities, and sporting events, especially American football games.

Historians point out that the popular story of the first Thanksgiving, involving English settlers and the Wampanoag people in 1621, is more complex than it is often presented and should be understood within its broader historical context. Today, Thanksgiving is widely seen as an opportunity to appreciate family, friendship, generosity, and the support people receive from those around them.

💡 Did you know?

Where does the word Thanksgiving come from? It literally means 'giving thanks.' The first English settlers who came to America (the Pilgrims) had a very difficult first winter and almost nothing to eat. Native Americans (Wampanoag tribe) taught them how to grow corn and hunt. To thank them, the settlers organized a huge feast that lasted three days!

The Macy's parade in New York is incredible! Instead of simple floats, you see huge inflatable balloons shaped like cartoon characters (like Snoopy or Mickey) floating between skyscrapers. These balloons are so large that sometimes it takes 90 people to hold the strings of a single character so it doesn't fly away!

There is a funny tradition at the White House (where the US President lives). Each year, two live turkeys are presented to the President, and he officially grants them a 'pardon.' This means these turkeys will never be eaten and will live out their days peacefully on a farm or in a zoo!