Thanksgiving is the day to celebrate the reap and rewards of the previous year. It is a time to show gratitude for all the bounties we receive in our lives.
Like every year, Thanksgiving 2021 will occur on the fourth Thursday of November, which is November 25, 2021.
Have you done your preparations for Thanksgiving 2021?
We all commemorate Thanksgiving, but only a few of us know the exact history behind this auspicious occasion.
This article is dedicated to Thanksgiving, and we will discuss Thanksgiving origin, history, traditions, customs, etc.
So, let’s cut to the chase and get started.
All About Thanksgiving — Origin, History, Traditions, & More!
The idea of Thanksgiving began back in 1621 when the Wampanoag and Plymouth colonists shared an autumn harvest feast together. It was considered the first Thanksgiving celebration of two colonies.
Today, people celebrate Thanksgiving all around the United States and Canada.
The following section will cover Thanksgiving origin and history. Let’s now have a look at it.
Thanksgiving Origin:
Thanksgiving originated when colonial pilgrims celebrated their autumn harvest in 1621. The day (4th Thursday of November) was then pronounced as Thanksgiving day.
After the first Thanksgiving day celebration, individual colonies and states started commemorating this occasion for over two centuries.
Abraham Lincoln, on October 3, 1863 testified Thanksgiving as a state event for Americans amid the Civil War.
Now, let’s dig into the details. The next section will cover Thanksgiving history and explain how people celebrate Thanksgiving throughout America.
Thanksgiving History:
It all started in September 1620. Around 102 passengers left England in a ship named Mayflower. All those passengers were having religious conflicts and seeking a place to practice their religion with no boundaries. Thus, after days of the strained voyage, the colonists resided and started working at Plymouth and established a village there. Today, the colonists are known as Pilgrims.
After a whole year, in 1621, Plymouth colonists, along with the Wampanoag people (a tribe of Native Americans), celebrated the autumn harvest feast recognized as Thanksgiving Day. It was Wampanoag folks who befriended the pilgrims and brought them corn and turkey as a friendly gesture.
Today, people across America and Canada celebrate Thanksgiving following the tradition of sharing meals together. Turkey and cornbread are the essences of Thanksgiving, making it a wholesome event.
Thanksgiving Traditions:
It is gloomy to say that Thanksgiving has forfeited its pious implication. For most of us, it is merely a casual event on which we meet and greet our folks and peers.
Modern Thanksgiving is all about the turkey. Almost 90% of the people eat the bird on Thanksgiving day.
Although eating turkey and other Thanksgiving meals is a tradition, we must commemorate the origin and history of Thanksgiving.
Here are some traditions we follow on Thanksgiving Day:
Food Traditions:
Everyone is familiar with the concept of family gatherings on Thanksgiving. The family reunion is not only for people present in this world but also to remember those who passed away. In some rural areas, people visit their deceased family members, bringing them their favorite food in order to show a gesture of reminiscence.
The family feast is incomplete without traditional Thanksgiving meals.
Here are some accustomed Thanksgiving meals every family prepares on Thanksgiving day.
● Turkey — of course!
● Mashed Potatoes
● Turkey Stuffing
● Cornbread
● Cranberry Sauce
● Green Beans
● Pumpkin Pie
● Gravy
Greatest thing about Thanksgiving is arranging a free feast for those who are less fortunate. As a result, a huge number of people volunteer and host open dinners on Thanksgiving.
The Parade:
Millions of people watch Macy’s parade on Thanksgiving day. Since 1924, Macy’s parade has become an important part of Thanksgiving day. The foremost Macy’s parade was held on Thanksgiving. It was November 27, 1924. Macy’s Department Store arranged the whole parade. It is a 2.5-mile route parade with marching bands, balloons, musical performances, and giant floats.
Football Match:
Football matches have not always been an integral part of Thanksgiving day until after 1876. Back then, college football teams at Yale and Princeton commenced a yearly practice to play football on every Thanksgiving. At that time, American football was underdeveloped. Still, the game played on Thanksgiving day caught the attention of many people, making it an annual tradition.
Why is Thanksgiving in America and Canada Celebrated on Different Dates?
American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday of November (4th Thursday). In contrast, Canadian Thanksgiving is solemnized on the 2nd Monday of October. Thanksgiving is an occasion to praise the harvest. Canada is located farther north. Thus the harvest season is much earlier compared to America.
Tips for Thanksgiving — How to Celebrate Thanksgiving 2021?
Thanksgiving day can be a serene holiday or a turmoil, all depending on how you planned it. As it is a national holiday, people across America travel to visit their loved ones. However, while planning your trip, you must be vigilant of the traffic situation on the roads of America. According to research, Thanksgiving comes second after Christmas as an event on which lethal road accidents occur.
So, the best way to enjoy Thanksgiving in serenity is by planning it properly.
Or, you can follow the below-mentioned tips to make your Thanksgiving more colorful.
Plan Thanksgiving Tours:
No one wants to get stuck in a traffic jam, especially on Thanksgiving day. So, if you’re scheduled to visit your parents on Thanksgiving, make sure to leave for the trip early. If you live far away, you must travel 2 or 3 days before, avoiding busy roads. Also, plan day trips and evade night tours to prevent car accidents.
Don’t Eat Too Much Food:
Thanksgiving is a day to feast, but eating too much food can cause trouble. Studies showed that people are 10 times more prone to get choked on Thanksgiving feast. However, you can save yourself from a trip to the emergency room on Thanksgiving day by following simple precautions.
● Do not eat too fast; instead, chew your food properly.
● Avoid swallowing large chunks of food.
● Keep a check on alcohol consumption.
Food poisoning on Thanksgiving is common and occurs due to eating raw or undercooked food, especially meat products. While preparing Thanksgiving meals, make sure you’ve set the right temperature to cook the feast properly.
Install Fire Alarm in Home:
Whether outdoor barbeque or turkey roasting inside the kitchen, there are big chances of fire accidents. That is why you must install a fire alarm in your house areas where you plan to cook prior to Thanksgiving. It can detect excessive smoke and alert you to check the cooking range or bar-be-que grill before the fire catches the place.
Keep First-Aid Box Ready:
Car accidents, house fires, or football injuries. Thanksgiving can give you chills if you don’t plan it carefully. But, no matter how cautious you were on Thanksgiving, a minor mistake can ruin your event. So, as a precautionary measure, set up a first-aid kit and place it in your car, kitchen, and backyard, where you’re arranging outdoor games.
Don’t Forget to Keep Eyes on Kids:
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, all these events come consecutively, making our holiday season more cheerful. But, unfortunately, kids, during such periods of holidays, become lazy and spend hours on video games or watching Netflix. Consequently, teens and tweens become couch potatoes that harm their physical health and mental well-being.
So, instead of giving full permission to kids to do whatever they like, parents can optimize their screen usage by utilizing parental control apps,
Here, we will mention TheWiSpy parental control software.
TheWiSpy is an outclass monitoring app that empowers parents to control their children’s mobile usage with secret remote commands. For example, parents can restrict harmful games, block contacts, and even lock the phone screen with virtual commands using this app.
Isn’t it great?
For Thanksgiving and other festive occasions, TheWiSpy appears as a blessing in disguise. Parents get so caught up in house chores that they forget to keep tabs on their kids’ routine tasks. But, with TheWiSpy, parents can locate their kids, monitor calls and messages, view social media activities, and restrict screen usage without letting their kids know.
Note: TheWiSpy offers a Flat 30% Discount. Use Coupon Code: Thanks-2021 at checkout.
The Final Verdict:
Today, Thanksgiving is more like a holiday than a traditional event for many people who don’t know about its history. Being a parent or elderly one, we are liable to explain the importance and significance of this special day to the next generation.
Thanksgiving is not all about turkey!
It is about being grateful and sharing blessings with others.
Unfortunately, only a few communities commemorate Thanksgiving traditionally. Some visit their deceased ones, and some spend quality time with their family or arrange free dinners voluntarily.
Thanksgiving keeps us busy. People decorate their houses, buy presents, prepare meals, and arrange backyard activities to entertain their loved ones on this auspicious occasion.
Here is a little tip: don’t forget to keep your eyes on your children while entangled in Thanksgiving tasks. Get a parental control app installed on your child’s phone so that you can keep your kids under your watch 24/7.
