Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a U.S. Federal Holiday, that is always celebrated on the Fourth Thursday in November and is one of the most Popular Holidays in November.

• 2023 Date - Thursday, November 23, 2023
  
• 2024 Date - Thursday, November 28, 2024
• 2025 Date - Thursday, November 27, 2025
• 2026 Date - Thursday, November 26, 2026
• 2027 Date - Thursday, November 25, 2027
• 2028 Date - Thursday, November 23, 2028

You have all heard the traditional Thanksgiving story! The original gathering took place in the Fall of 1621, between the Pilgrims and the Indians to celebrate making it through the first year at Plymouth Rock. Many had died, but they made it through with the help of the Indians.  A harvest festival was proclaimed, which lasted three days.

Thanksgiving Facts

Some facts that you might not know are: 

• Turkey and pumpkin pie were probably not included, but fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums, were probably on the menu!

• The next Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in June 1676, to commemorate the fact that their community in Massachusetts was secure.  The day was set aside as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving, and Praise to God.  The Indians were seen as a hindrance to acquiring land, rather than a help at this time, and were not included.

• In October 1777, another Thanksgiving celebration took place, to celebrate the victory over the British in Saratoga.

• In 1789,  George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving, but many people were opposed to it because they did not believe that the hardships of the pilgrims warranted a National Holiday.  President Thomas Jefferson was opposed to having Thanksgiving.

• The feast did not become a National Day of Thanksgiving until 1863, when President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November, a Day of Thanksgiving.  Every President after that, proclaimed Thanksgiving a Holiday.

• The date was changed a couple of times, but in 1941, Thanksgiving became a legal Holiday, occurring on the Fourth Thursday in November, more than 300 years after the original feast.

• Thanksgiving today has come to be associated with family reunions, turkey and stuffing, eating way too much, eating pumpkin pie while stuffed, The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, an expensive time for air travel, the start of the Christmas holiday shopping season, and watching football!!  It remains a day of gratitude, and food, like the original celebration!

• The day after Thanksgiving, named "Black Friday", is the biggest shopping day of the year.  Over the years, stores have opened earlier and earlier, trying to "outdo" each other.  I must admit, that this is a day that I stay out of the stores, but some fantastic shopping deals can be found on this day, if you want to brave the traffic and the crowds, to say nothing about finding that elusive parking spot!

• The following Monday after Thanksgiving, in recent years, has been named, "Cyber Monday", and is essentially the same as Black Friday, only the sales deals can be found by shopping online.  I much prefer this option, as you don't have to get out in traffic and deal with the crowds in the stores!

This was a centerpiece that our Mom did for her Holiday Table in 2011. Half of the fun for the Holiday Meals at her house, is seeing what she comes up with to decorate her table!

Gratitude

Gratitude is defined as the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful. It is an important quality to develop in your life for many reasons. Many studies have shown that grateful people are happier; less stressed out and depressed, and experience greater satisfaction in life. The practice of starting a gratefulness journal and writing down three things you are grateful for each day, can actually increase your happiness! Take the time to be grateful!

If you are planning a big family meal at home, try to incorporate others in your group this year...those that don't have family nearby to visit, military families that have loved ones serving, single parents with kids, or those who live alone and might not have a place to go!

Thanksgiving Alphabet

Additional Thanksgiving Information

For additional information, please check out: (info coming soon)

• Holiday Drinks

• Pumpkins and Pumpkin Recipes

• Thanksgiving Day Crafts

• Thanksgiving Day Parade

• Thanksgiving Food

• Thanksgiving Recipes - Please Share YOUR Holiday Recipes and any that are appropriate will be linked on this page

• Tips for Turkey Leftovers - link goes to Kerry's Healthy Diet Habits website

Pinterest

Please Follow our Holidays and Observances Thanksgiving Day - Holiday Board on Pinterest - below you will see our 30 most recent pins to this photo board!

Click on the SEE ON PINTEREST bar right above, (link will take you to our Pinterest Boards) to see all the rest of our photo's on this board, and to Follow the board. New photos will be constantly added!

Solo Build It, or SBI, is the awesome E-Business software that we are using for this site! Create an extra income stream in your spare time!

---