US: Six interesting facts you didn’t know about Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is one of the most cherished holidays in the United States. It is often celebrated with family gatherings, traditional meals, and expressions of gratitude.

On this day, Americans typically enjoy a family meal, participate in church services, and watch special sporting events.

The holiday, observed on the fourth Thursday of November, carries deep cultural and historical significance. For this year’s celebration, Thanksgiving Day will fall on Thursday, 28 November 2024.

Tribune Online presents six interesting facts you probably didn’t know about Thanksgiving Day.

1. Origin

Thanksgiving tradition is commonly believed to have been inspired by a 1621 harvest feast shared between the Plymouth Pilgrims (English colonists) and the Wampanoag people.

2. Proclamation

Thanksgiving became a national tradition in the United States when Abraham Lincoln issued a presidential proclamation on 3 October 1863, though individual states had observed it since the nation’s founding. In 1941, the United States Congress officially designated the fourth Thursday in November as a federal holiday.

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3. Thanksgiving Meals

The centrepiece of a Thanksgiving meal typically includes turkey, bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. This abundance symbolises appreciation for the year’s blessings, with over 46 million turkeys consumed each Thanksgiving.

4. Celebration Parades

Thanksgiving is marked by public celebrations featuring parades, such as Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City, the Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade in Plymouth, Massachusetts, McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago, and the Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Parade in New Orleans.

5. Link to Black Friday

Thanksgiving marks the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season. Many retailers launch significant sales the following day, known as Black Friday when Americans transition from sharing gratitude at the dinner table to hunting for bargains in stores and online.

6. Other Observances

Apart from the United States, Thanksgiving Day is also observed on different dates in countries such as Canada, Germany, Liberia, and Saint Lucia, as well as in sub-national entities like Leiden (Netherlands), Norfolk Island (Australia), and various territories of the United States.

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