Thanksgiving is a Federal holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States of America. Traditionally, this holiday celebrates the giving of thanks for the autumn harvest. Unlike other holidays, which are more gift-focused, Thanksgiving centres around being thankful for what we have and the special people in our lives. This year, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 25, 2021.
To celebrate this day, friends and family get together to enjoy a hearty meal, decorate their homes, and catch up with each other. A typical Thanksgiving meal includes turkey, bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberries and pumpkin pie.
When is Thanksgiving?
In the US, Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, which means that this year it falls on Thursday 25 November.
However, in Canada, it is celebrated earlier on the second Monday of October which means it was on 11 October.
Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a regular national day of thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November in 1863.
Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving Day?
Thanksgiving is celebrated to say thanks and recognize the sacrifices and blessings of the past year. The annual celebrations honour the first Thanksgiving feast shared between the colonists in Plymouth, Massachusetts, later known as the Pilgrims, and the Wampanoag Indians.
Also read: Constitution Day 2021: What is it and why it is celebrated on Nov 26, click to know
How is Thanksgiving Celebrated?
Turkey is central to the Thanksgiving festivities in America. The bird is included in the traditional feast. The celebration of Thanksgiving 2021 is sure to be a great time for families to finally get together, enjoy delicious meals and celebrate the holiday season. Another reason is that it marks the beginning of the Christmas season, so people start their shopping for the holiday season. In fact, the day after Thanksgiving Day is marked as Black Friday, when brands offer huge discounts on their products.