Importance Of America’s Annual Thanksgiving Day - By: treeves

The festive season starts with the Thanksgiving Day which is celebrated with lot of fervor and merry-making in America. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in the month of November every year as a gesture to offer thanks to the God; family gatherings, a notion of gratefulness and big fat feasts. It's a time of turkeys, stuffing, pumpkin pie, Indian corn, holiday parades and giant balloons. After the United States gained independence from colonization, congress anointed a day in November as the 'Day of Thanksgiving to God', and later declared the fourth Thursday of each November as a national Day of Thanksgiving.

A few days back I watched a TV show on my Dish TV about the origin of the Thanksgiving Day and how it gained momentum and became a national festival. It was a very inspiring documentary in terms of being grateful and paying tribute to our ancestors. During the 1620's a group of pilgrims and common individuals sailed from Plymouth, England on a ship called Mayflower, seeking a new home where they could practice their religion freely and other individuals were lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in the New World. After going through an ordeal of many days they reached the land and slowly established their settlements.

The outbreak of contagious disease and the harsh whether added to their woes and half of the original crew lost their lives. The remaining settlers, with the help of the natives, prospered and reaped a bountiful harvest the following summer. They celebrated a three-day feast and offerings to express their gratitude to the God and the native Indians. This embarked the beginning of Thanksgiving festival in America.

Traditional Feast

Thanksgiving Day is a time of festive spirit, family meals and reunions in America. The Thanksgiving dinner includes a huge menu traditionally featuring carved turkeys, pumpkin pie, sweet corns, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, fall vegetable like squash and beans are the traditional dishes gracing the dinner tables in almost every house. Cooking turkey with the right combination of spices and techniques will get you a flavorful turkey that everyone will love. Dessert made of pumpkin, sweet potatoes and nuts are most loved. This is the best time of the holidays to try out new recipes or make traditional favorites that have pleased generations of families.

The Start of Festive Shopping – Black Friday

Thanksgiving day is the official beginning of the Christmas season and the following day marks the Black Friday famous for shopping deals. Shoppers on this day will get a bang for their buck with great deals and amazing prices. But the offers are for a limited stock and so the shopping fever starts from the midnight of Thanksgiving Day. It's a public holiday in most of the states and many organizations remain closed for the Thanksgiving weekend. The reason for the name Black Friday is a standard accounting practice of writing profits in black ink followed in earlier days. Many retailers used to make profits before Christmas and started showing a profit, marked in black ink on the day after Thanksgiving Day. On this day the shopping spree reaches its heights and the shopkeepers register maximum sales and profits. The entire atmosphere will be filled in festive spirit and holiday mood.

The festive season marks the beginning of expressing gratitude by exchanging gifts with family and friends. It's a time to be thankful and respectful for the all the goodness bestowed. Some companies have brought in the practice of sending thanksgiving cards to show their gratitude to their customers, clients and business associates. Popular gifts offered include thanksgiving cards, flowers, jewelery, baked cookie hampers, chocolate gift baskets, candy-wreaths, gadgets, toys etc. and folks begin Christmas decorations in their house.

About the Author

Tina is a freelance writer who likes to write on the importance and significance of Thanksgiving Day and gets inspiration from TV shows about Thanksgiving broadcasted on her Dish TV.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/treeves/207285

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