Thanksgiving… A Little Story!

This week, I am happy to share a wonderful article recently published on STROLL Miromar Lakes Magazine.

The article was written by my lovely wife Vianca.

👇👏👇👏👇👏👇👏👇👏👇👏👇👏👇

Your Neighborhood-Your Stories

“Thanksgiving… A Little History.”

By Vianca Pino.

A Little Thanksgiving History.

Setting aside time to give thanks for one’s blessings, along with holding feasts to celebrate a harvest, are both practices that long predate the European settlement of North America.

The first documented thanksgiving services in territory currently belonging to the United States were conducted by Spaniards and the French in the 16th century.

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the US, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

It is sometimes called American Thanksgiving (outside the United States) to distinguish it from the Canadian holiday with the same name and related celebrations in other regions.

It originated as a harvest festival, and the centerpiece of Thanksgiving celebrations remains the wonderful and delicious Thanksgiving Dinner.

The dinner traditionally consists of foods and dishes indigenous to the Americas, namely turkey (the main character), potatoes, (usually mashed potatoes), traditional stuffing, squash, corn, green beans, cranberries (jelly or jam sauce), and pumpkin pie.

Other Thanksgiving customs include attending religious services, watching parades, and viewing  football games.

In American culture Thanksgiving is regarded as the beginning of the fall–winter holiday season, which includes Christmas and New year.

Thanksgiving has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789.

On January 6, 1885, an act by Congress made Thanksgiving, and other federal holidays, a paid holiday for all federal workers throughout the United States.

Turkey, usually roasted and stuffed (but sometimes deep fried instead), is typically the featured item on most Thanksgiving feast tables.

According to Wikipedia, 40 million turkeys were consumed on Thanksgiving Day alone in 2019.

At home, it is a holiday tradition in many families to begin the Thanksgiving dinner by saying grace (a prayer before or after a meal).

Before praying, it is a common practice at the dining table for “each person [to] tell one specific reason they’re thankful to God that year”.

While grace is said, some families hold hands until the prayer concludes, often indicated with an “Amen”.

On Thanksgiving Day, families and friends usually gather for a large meal or dinner.

Consequently, the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Thanksgiving is a four-day or five-day weekend vacation for schools and colleges.

Most business and government workers (78% as of 2007) are given Thanksgiving and the day after as paid holidays.

Thanksgiving Eve, the night before Thanksgiving, is one of the busiest nights of the year for bars and clubs as many college students and others return to their hometowns to reunite with friends and family.

This Thanksgiving, we want to wish all of you a very delicious Holiday, may the abundance of appreciation and gratitude fill your homes and hearts.

Source: Federal holidays in the United States – Wikipedia

Source:Thanksgiving dinner – Wikipedia

Source: Thanksgiving – Wikipedia

********  ********* ********

If you want to laugh more, talk more and enjoy an even better Thanksgiving… watch this stream… we give 7 questions to ask your family and friends while you gather for dinner: