What exactly is Thanksgiving Day, and why is it worth celebrating? We celebrate this significant state public holiday with a feast to express gratitude for their many blessings.

Thanksgiving Day is observed annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It is traditionally a moment to give thanks for all the sacrifices and hard work for the harvest. Nowadays, people take time off of work to celebrate this day with their loved ones over a nice meal. This year’s Thanksgiving Day takes place on November 24th. 

History of Thanksgiving Day

In the early 1600s, settlers in both Massachusetts and Virginia celebrated feasts to thank God for their survival, crops' fertility, and devotion. The Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts, who enjoyed an autumn harvest feast with the Wampanoag Native Americans in 1621, are the best-known early Thanksgiving participants.

The first national Thanksgiving was held for a reason other than a harvest celebration to commemorate the birth of the new United States Constitution. President George Washington published a proclamation on November 26, 1789, declaring November 26 as a "Day of Public Thanksgiving" to honor the role of Providence in the formation of the new United States and the new federal Constitution.

Many individuals, however, continued to celebrate Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November, despite the fact that the holiday's date had been changed. However, one could argue that this contributed to the Black Friday shopping madness celebrated after the holiday.

Celebrating Thanksgiving Day 

Give Back 

It's a great way to help others and allows the entire family to participate. This holiday, you may express your appreciation and give back in a variety of ways, from offering a warm hug to a buddy to buying groceries for someone in need. Several methods to give back include food drives, donation websites, clothing drives, and various nonprofit organizations.

Host a Turkey Trot 

An early Thanksgiving morning run or walk is known as a "turkey trot." It's an opportunity to get up early, drink some coffee, put on your best holiday hat, and meet with neighbors at a local fun run. If you all decide to contribute, it might be a great way to bond with family and friends. 

And if you are like us, why not wear an ankle/wrist weight to add a little bit of challenge to your morning run? It can also be your chance to test out a new running gear that you've been eyeing!

Create Your Own Tradition 

It's nice to have a family tradition that you all formed with your loved ones. It is the most intimate way to spend this occasion and express your gratitude to one another. You can begin by preparing food or inventing a recipe that everyone collaborated on and only making today. 

You can also organize a game or event in which your family and friends will participate. The possibilities are endless. The most important thing is to enjoy, celebrate, and express gratitude for whatever you have.

Thanksgiving Day Traditions 

Nothing compares to offering a gift that the recipient will never forget. Here’s a list of some of my favorite traditions to share with everyone. 

Thanksgiving, which began as a harvest festival, has grown to become one of the most important holidays in the United States. People from all around the country come to gather for a meal and contemplate the numerous things we are thankful for. However, there is much more to do at this lovely time of year. 

It's a perfect day to enjoy life with family and friends while also giving back to those in need. Whether you are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner or attending one, it is also important that you enjoy this particular holiday.

Thanksgiving Meal

The roasted turkey is the traditional main course for Thanksgiving dinners. There would be no Thanksgiving without the traditional feast. The essentials include roast turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts. There are also pumpkin pies for dessert, which completes the meal. The popularity of green bean casserole has increased, especially in the Midwest. 

Other families opt to have vegetarian dinners rather than a stuffed turkey. They may consume vegetarian turkey made from tofu. Some people consume salads, squash, or other fruits and vegetables.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade generally begins at 77th Street and Central Park West and proceeds to 34th Street, where it ends at Macy's Herald Square. Bluey and Diary of a Wimpy Kid will be new balloons this year, joining returning balloons like Ada Twist Scientist, Astronaut Snoopy, Grogu, Goku, Paw Patrol, and more. One of the best November events in NYC is the yearly parade of huge balloons, floats, cheerleaders, clowns, marching bands, Broadway acts, and celebrities.

Take a Wishbone 

The bone in the turkey carcass is part of the turkey tradition. The wishbone, which is linked to the breast meat within the turkey's chest, gets dried. When the bone gets brittle, two individuals grab either side of it, make a wish, and pull. Whoever cuts the longer side gets their wish. 

Watch Football 

The idea of playing American football games on Thanksgiving Day dates back to 1876, just after the game was developed, because it was a day off for most people. That year, the Yale and Princeton football teams established an annual tradition of playing each other on Thanksgiving Day.  

A primetime contest was added to the mix in 2006, giving the league extra holiday exposure and increasing the number of appearances for the remainder of the NFL on Thanksgiving. Every year on this day, millions of families tune in to watch the Thanksgiving Day games.

Travel  

Many people live far away from family members and must travel vast distances by car, train, or plane to see them. Thanksgiving is frequently one of the most congested travel days of the year. Many families only come together over the Thanksgiving season. Traveling across the country with them is one of the nicest ways to celebrate. You might even visit distant relatives and share this occasion with them.

Key Takeaways 

On Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks for our good health, our loving families, and our good fortune. Both the United States and Canada have historically observed it as an annual national holiday in which people give thanks for the harvest and other benefits received in the past year.

Thanksgiving is important because it is a fun event where we can express our thanks, something we don't do nearly enough of these days. Although it is only observed once a year, we can constantly mark this significant holiday by being grateful for everything we have every day. We should constantly be grateful for even the smallest things we receive and learn to give thanks by giving back to others.

Speaking of learning to give thanks, have you bought gifts for your friends or family yet? Not sure what gift to give this Thanksgiving? If so, you might want to surprise them with a Nordic Lifting Gift Card so they can purchase everything they require or desire.