Thanksgiving is every fourth Thursday of November although it’s unclear why exactly; that’s just how it’s been since 1863. 

According to the Almanac “This was solidified by Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation in 1863 designating the national day of Thanksgiving to be the last Thursday of November. Later that was amended to the fourth Thursday in November.” 

Since childhood, we’ve all heard the stories of the pilgrims and the natives getting together in celebration to engage in a large feast of all the food they harvested. But when you dig deeper there’s no clear recollection of what started Thanksgiving. Some thoughts consist of the celebration of learning harvest and the celebration of colonizing land. There are records of the natives only coming to the dinner because explosives were set off and they came to investigate. 

According to the website Britannica, it supports the thought of a harvest feast taking place with the pilgrims and natives.

“Americans generally believe that their Thanksgiving is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people,” Britannica said. 

No matter the origin, it is now proclaimed a national holiday to celebrate the past year’s blessings. We mainly do so by getting together with family members and cooking a delicious dinner. The most popular food items consist of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, etc. There are of course other foods such as cultural dishes that are implemented with popular American dishes. 

Other than a Thanksgiving meal people have other traditions such as watching the Thanksgiving Macy’s parade, a Friendsgiving meal, or Black Friday shopping. According to EF Academy Blog the Macy’s parade is becoming one of the most popular traditions for families at home and in New York where it takes place.

“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is now one of the most famous holiday traditions in the United States,” said EF. “This particular parade is known for its giant inflatable balloons that float between the skyscrapers, high above the onlookers.

No matter how you celebrate, make sure to show your thanks to all the special people in your life as the year comes to an end.