THANKSGIVING IN THE UNITED STATES: THE COZINESS OF HOME

Many cultures celebrate a Thanksgiving holiday, such as the Harvest Festival in Germany and Labor Thanksgiving Day in Japan. In America, the name for this celebration is "Thanksgiving" (or colloquially, Turkey Day).

The history of Thanksgiving in the United States, traditional foods, and other aspects of the holiday's celebration are all covered here.

When will you be ready? Okay, so let's begin.

To begin, what exactly is Thanksgiving?

Currently, Thanksgiving Day is a federally recognized day to express gratitude and thankfulness to one's community. As the first day of the "holiday season" (which includes Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve), this day is also associated with big meals, quality time with family, and celebrations of faith.

However, the origins of this special day remain a mystery.

The date of this year's Thanksgiving feast.

The annual Thanksgiving holiday always falls on the fourth Thursday of the month.

American customs and traditions surrounding Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving meal is the centerpiece of many American Thanksgiving traditions. Roasted turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, bread rolls, stuffing, deviled eggs, green bean casserole, brussels sprouts, and cranberry sauce are just a few of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Importantly, no Thanksgiving meal is complete without a slice (or three) of pumpkin pie. For the purpose of enhancing their dining experience, many people invest in high-quality wines and other alcoholic beverages. It's recommended that you stuff your face until you can't anymore.

Thanksgiving is one of the most meaningful holidays because of the emphasis placed on spending time with loved ones. On Thanksgiving, people get together with relatives they may not have seen since last year or even longer. Family members from all over the United States will be making long-distance journeys to be together for this celebration. Get your tickets early if you want to fly for Thanksgiving, and leave a few days early if you want to avoid the hassle of heavy traffic and reckless drivers on the roads.

Decorations for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving decorations are a given if you're ever invited to someone's house for the holiday. Cornucopias, pumpkins, and other squashes (real or plastic), and autumn leaf decorations are common ornaments (usually plastic or paper). Those who really get into the spirit of Thanksgiving might also burn some incense or candles with fall-appropriate fragrances (like cinnamon or pumpkin) to set the mood at home.

Traditional football game on Thanksgiving

While waiting for the turkey to finish cooking, many families gather around the television to watch the game. The sight of fifteen or more people crammed into a living room eating appetizers, drinking beer, and watching the game is perfectly normal, as is the sight of two or three people frantically preparing the meal in the kitchen.

Parade presented by Macy's on Thanksgiving Day

Non-football fans will likely tune in to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on television (if they didn't make the trip to New York City). This parade has been held annually since 1924, and it has become a Thanksgiving staple thanks to the many different floats and performances it features.

Deals on Black Friday

Many people start their Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving because it marks the unofficial start of the end-of-year holiday season. This prompted businesses to promote Black Friday sales on the day after Thanksgiving. In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt supported this idea, reasoning that the sudden increase in consumer spending would be good for the economy. In fact, it was Roosevelt who moved Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday of November, thereby kicking off the holiday shopping season earlier.

Thousands of people will gather outside of stores and then rush inside to buy everything they can. Black Friday used to be a peaceful day of discounted holiday (and personal) shopping, but in the last decade or so, it has devolved into a violent melee where people have been injured or killed trying to get the best deals.

It's easy to see why Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated holidays in the USA. Do you celebrate anything similar?