Thanksgiving Day: Meaning, History, and Facts
Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States and Canada, honoring the harvest and blessings of the past year. It is traditionally a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate.
Origins and Historical Background
Americans trace their Thanksgiving to a 1621 harvest feast shared between the Pilgrims of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people. Early colonists in New England and Canada regularly observed “thanksgivings”—days of prayer for safe journeys, military victories, or plentiful harvests.
Canadians link their earliest Thanksgiving to 1578, when explorer Martin Frobisher held a ceremony to give thanks for a safe voyage.
Modern Celebrations
- In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. This date was established by a 1941 Congressional resolution and a presidential proclamation by Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- Since 1957, Canada has celebrated Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October.
Both countries observe the holiday with festive meals featuring traditional dishes such as turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin pie.
"Americans generally believe that their Thanksgiving is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the European colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people."
"Canadians trace their earliest thanksgiving celebration to 1578, when an expedition led by Martin Frobisher gave thanks for its safe passage."
Thanksgiving remains a time to appreciate past blessings and spend meaningful moments with loved ones.
Author's summary: Thanksgiving Day in the US and Canada honors past blessings through historic feasts, prayers, and shared meals, rooted in early colonial and indigenous traditions.