"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward.
Can you believe that Thanksgiving is on Thursday? Every year, I say, "I can't believe how the time has flown by." It seems like the older I get, the faster time goes by. (That statement is made by many!)
I feel gratitude is essential, and I look for things to be grateful for daily. Thanksgiving is a day to remember what we are thankful for; however, remember you can be grateful daily!
Every year, I share the history of the season.
The origins of Thanksgiving in the United States can be traced back to the early 17th century. The most famous Thanksgiving story is associated with the Pilgrims, a group of English Separatists (Dissenters) who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 and settled in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. They faced a harsh first winter, during which many of them died from illness and lack of food.
In the fall of 1621, the surviving Pilgrims, along with members of the Wampanoag Native American tribe, came together for a three-day feast to celebrate their successful harvest. This event is often considered the "First Thanksgiving" and symbolizes cooperation and mutual support between the Pilgrims and Native Americans.
Thanksgiving didn't become an official national holiday until much later. In 1863, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill into law, officially establishing Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November, where it remains today.
Modern Thanksgiving celebrations in the United States typically involve family gatherings, a feast featuring turkey, stuffing, and other traditional dishes, parades (most notably the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City), and expressions of gratitude.
So, there is the history.
On another subject, what are you doing for Thanksgiving? I am going to a friend's house and will enjoy my day. Then, on Friday, I am getting together with a friend and spending time with her. I am grateful for many things. Today, I am grateful for my friends and all of you who read my blogs.
Enjoy your Holiday!
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