Thanksgiving Traditions (2024)

FAQs

What is the true story behind Thanksgiving? ›

As the story goes, friendly Native Americans taught the struggling colonists how to survive in what the Europeans called the New World. Then everyone got together to celebrate with a feast in 1621. Thanksgiving 2022 would mark the 401st anniversary of that "first" American Thanksgiving.

Most folks think spending time with loved ones is the most important part of Thanksgiving. 88% of people surveyed believe knowing the history of Thanksgiving is important. Hosting is the most dreaded aspect of celebrating Thanksgiving. Four out of every five people love Thanksgiving leftovers.

Traditional foods are a large part of Thanksgiving celebrations. Many families include the entire family in the food preparation. Traditional foods include turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce.

Americans model their holiday on a 1621 harvest feast shared between the Wampanoag people and the English colonists known as Pilgrims. Canadians trace their earliest thanksgiving celebration to 1578, when an expedition led by Martin Frobisher gave thanks for its safe passage.

For those who are spending the holiday alone, but still want to take part in Thanksgiving-related activities, spend the morning or afternoon at a local homeless centre. You can continue the day by hosting a Friendsgiving dinner or movie night with your pals who are still in town.

It's important to know that for many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning and protest since it commemorates the arrival of settlers in North America and the centuries of oppression and genocide that followed.

More importantly, Thanksgiving had its origins in the Puritan religion, at least as a matter of legend. On the other hand, it is celebrated by Americans of a broad variety of religious backgrounds.

Re-informing the history of Thanksgiving

James wrote a scathing indictment of the Pilgrims. He described how they desecrated Native American graves, stealing food and land and decimating the population with disease.

Breaking The Wishbone

One beloved tradition comes with every holiday turkey: the wishbone. Two people pull the bone apart, and whoever has the larger half will have their holiday wish come true.

Thanksgiving in Biblical Context

The concept of Thanksgiving can be traced back to the Holy Bible, where it represents a fundamental aspect of God's people. In both the Old and New Testaments, Thanksgiving emphasizes gratitude and praise to God for His many blessings.

Why Thanksgiving is a must? ›

It tells us that glorifying God through thanksgiving can speak to those who need the Lord and can help bring them to eternally trust the Lord. The absence of thankfulness in the Christian life can do the very opposite - it can drive people away from faith.

People used to pull apart the wishbone of the turkey on Thanksgiving day. In many households in the 20th century, the breaking of the wishbone was a hallowed tradition. It also promoted patience and being together with family longer because only a dry wishbone would break!

Massasoit sent some of his own men to hunt deer for the feast and for three days, the English and native men, women, and children ate together. The meal consisted of deer, corn, shellfish, and roasted meat, different from today's traditional Thanksgiving feast. They played ball games, sang, and danced.

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer. The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie.