Seriously, why does everyone celebrate Thanksgiving? What's the story behind it?
823094
The United States\n\nIn 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter.\n\nThe Pilgrims had beaten the odds. They built homes in the wilderness, they raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians.\n\nThe custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution (late 1770's) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress.\n\nIn 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.\n\nhttp://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/story.htm\n\nhope this helps
760065
It's about the Pilgrims and Indians celebrating the first harvest.\n\n"According to historical sources, the Pilgrims never held an autumnal Thanksgiving feast. The Pilgrims did have a feast in 1621 near Plymouth, Massachusetts, after their first harvest. This is the feast people often refer to as "The First Thanksgiving." This feast was never repeated, so it can't be called the start of a tradition, nor did the colonists or Pilgrims call it a Thanksgiving Feast. In fact, to these devoutly religious people, a day of thanksgiving was a day of prayer and fasting. \n\nNevertheless, the 1621 feast has become a model for the Thanksgiving celebration in the United States. More than likely, this first harvest feast was eaten outside, based on the fact that the colonists didn't have a building large enough to accommodate all the people who came. Native Americans definitely were among the invited guests, and it's possible, even probable, that turkey (roasted but not stuffed) and pumpkin in some form found their way to the table."
859497
You mean, the story behind Thanksgiving?\n\nRead below.\n\nIf you're trying to explain it to younger kids, there's a simple-English version of the same page.  I've linked to it as well.
727146
Thanksgiving is not supposed to be about our individual religions or cultural backgrounds.  Christians, Jews and Muslims can and do observe the holiday.\n\nOutside of the US and Canada, however, there isn't a Thanksgiving day (maybe England has one, I don't know...) \n\nIndia, Africa, Asia, and pretty much the rest of the world doesn't observe our Thanksgiving any more than they observe our Independence day or Cinco de Mayo...
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So you read my answer, didn't you? Thanks...\n\nWe don't celebrate it coz our Great Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) didn't celebrate it, so as his followers, we don't celebrate it too. \n\nIf we'd like to thank to God, we dont have to wait until thanksgiving or other holidays. We can do that in our Shalat, in our pray, or by sharing with the others, at anytimr
702394
In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. The origin and history of Thanksgiving Day in Canada is different from the American Thanksgiving. Whereas the American tradition talks about remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The geographical location of Canada is further north as compared to the United States therefore the harvest season falls earlier in Canada. \nThere are three traditions behind Canadian Thanksgiving Day:\n\n1. The farmers in Europe held celebrations at the time of harvesting to give thanks for their good fortune of a bountiful harvest and abundance of food. The farmers would fill a goat's curved horn with fruits and grains. This curved horn was known as a cornucopia or the horn of plenty. It is believed that when the European farmers came to Canada they brought this tradition of Thanksgiving with them. \n\n2. The history of Thanksgiving in Canada is related to Martin Frobisher, who was an English navigator. He made a lot of efforts to find a northern passage to the Orient. Though he did not succeed in his efforts but he was able to establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now known as Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Martin Frobisher was later knighted and an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada was named as ' Frobisher Bay' after him. When other settlers arrived here they continued this ceremony of giving thanks. \n\n3. The third influence occurred in 1621 in what is now the United States. Here the pilgrims, who were the English colonists, celebrated their first harvest in the New World at Plymouth Massachusetts. By the 1750s this celebration of harvest was brought to Nova Scotia by American settlers from the south. \n\nIn the 1600s, another navigator Samuel de Champlain crossed the ocean and arrived to Canada. Other French Settlers also came with him and their group held huge feasts of thanks for the harvests. On this event they shared their food with the Native American neighbors and thus involved them in their celebrations. Then they formed ' The Order of Good Cheer' which marked the harvests and other events as well. \n\nAfter the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving. \n\nDuring the American Revolution the Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada. They brought with themselves the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. \n\nIn 1879, the Parliament declared 6th day of November as the day of Thanksgiving and also declared it a national holiday. Over the years different dates were used for celebrating the Thanksgiving Day in Canada but the most popular date was the 3rd Monday of October. \n\nAfter World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving Day were celebrated on a common day that was Monday of the week in which fell the 11th day of November. Ten years later, in 1931, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving Day became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed as the 'Remembrance Day'. \n\nFinally, on January 31st, 1957, the Parliament issued a proclamation to fix permanently the 2nd Monday in October as the Thanksgiving Day. The Proclamation goes as...
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Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the 2nd Monday of October.\n\n"The farmers in Europe held celebrations at harvest time. They filled a curved goat's horn with fruit and grain to give thanks for their good fortune and the abundance of food. They brought this tradition when they came to Canada.\n\nDuring the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada."\n\nMore information about the history of Canadian Thanksgiving:\n\nhttp://www.geocities.com/ouravonlea/canadian-thanksgiving.html
780256
It is a way of showing how greatful and happy we are, for all the good food that has just been brought in from the fields, that has been grown and harvested.\n\nAnd greatful for our friends and families, where we live.\n\nWhen it began it celebrated the Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock and having this good meal with the Native Americans, who showed them how to cook and prepare foods in this New World we call America.\n\nIt was also to be greatful to a higher power, but I think we have forgotten that.  I hope not. That is up to each individual choice.
868599
I am a native AMERICAN indain, we do not celebrate thanksgiving as the rest do, if you really think about it, it was the beginning of the end for our tribes and our ways, for they seen us as heathens and they wanted our land, hook or crook, the justified there means. AS with christmas, its turned into such a shallow price spending spree, we know GOD"S son was not born on dec 25th, the time line does not match up, Think it would make them sad and very much does, as we should have him in our hearts every single day, and not put on a show
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It is to commemorate the early pilgrims who came here, suffered greatly, and finally raised enough crops to have a harvest festival.  The pilgrims and the Indians, who were friendly for the most part, held a big feast to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for having survived.\n\nWe don't give gifts, but we have big family feasts, and often a tradition of watching the Macy's parade (from New York City) on TV, and then there are the football games.  \n\nOf course, there are households that do not have televisions, and even a few where the television is turned off and people play games or read or enjoy conversation.  But the heart of the holiday is the feast, usually including a roast turkey, stuffing, yams, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin or mince pies.  There are a lot of other things some people include, but those are the really traditional elements.
697488
They don't celebrate the idea behind christmas, they don't celebrate the birth of out Lord and savior. They celebrate a holiday without the meaning of it. They celebrate the gathering of family and friends for a good meal and a great party.
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Autumn with Sweetie! We do celebrate it just because, because  of the wonderful things She does. I like any excuse for a holiday too. We enjoy the set ones like Thanksgiving ( Canadian in Oct. and American in Nov. ) and Christmas, then make more up if they don't come quickly enough for our liking. An example would be celebrating Wednesday, a very important day to us just because; LOL; because of the wonderful things She does!
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Thanksgiving, at it's most basic, is a harvest festival to thank GOD[1] and neighbors for providing enough food to last through the winter. Today, it is more of a celebration of abundance: whether of food, friends, or other 'blessings'.\n\nYou can have Thanksgiving at someone's house by cooking a large meal there on the fourth Thursday in November (US) and inviting friends and family to share in it. Different families have traditional meals, though a typical modern dinner might include Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, a vegetable dish, a jello dish, and Pumpkin Pie.\n\n\n[1] Since Thanksgiving (as such) was a Colonial American celebration, this would be the Christian God as followed by the majority of the settlers at the time. As Thanksgiving is analogous to harvest festivals occuring in many other religions, this designation is not necessarily exclusive
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Thanksgiving is no different for me than any other day...  I give thanks every day for my blessing which is why my life is a dream !!!\n\nWhat a pity that some people need a special day to give thanks rather than see what a blessing it is to simply wake up every morning! \n\naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahg God is good !!
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Something to look forward to I guess, like winter is cold and dark and depressing, but hey, Jesus was born and we get to have lots of parties and presents and do family stuff that although you say you hate it, it's pretty fun!\nAs it's for RE, I'd say that it makes a community, or a country, or a religion, feel united in their joy (or sadness for Easter).  We also celebrate to remind us, would we even know half these facts if we didn't celebrate them each year?  It's also an excuse to show people we care about them when celebrating birthdays and anniversaries and stuff.  Lots of reason!
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Thanksgiving is an American holiday. That doesn't even cover a majority of Christians worldwide, let alone everyone else who calls someone "God".
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The common idea is that Thanksgiving originated with the Pilgrims. Most Americans have this idea that when the Pilgrims landed in America and settled themselves they wanted to give thanks and appreciation for making it through the long journey. Also, they ended up sharing their feast with the Native Americans. Or did they? \n\nThe fact is that the first Thanksgiving was shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians in 1621. The celebration was more of a harvest festival with sports, games, food, dancing, singing, and revelry. When it comes to the food they ate the menu wasnt much like todays. Instead, it consisted of venison, fowl, and other foods prepared by the pilgrims. \n\nInterestingly enough the first Thanksgiving as we know it did not create a yearly tradition among the pilgrims. Partly because the following year was a poor one and because many new settlers had arrived, Thanksgiving became a celebration that was only observed occasionally over the following centuries. However, thanks to the Revolutionary War all of America celebrated Thanksgiving together in 1777. But, that still didnt get the tradition going like it is today. It wasnt until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November Thanksgiving that the tradition really became part of Americas culture. The only other change was when Franklin Roosevelt changed the date to the fourth Thursday in 1939. \n\nOf course, you may have learned a different Thanksgiving story in school or you may be one who believes Thanksgiving as a celebration shared by the Indians and the Pilgrims took part in their celebration. There is no shortage of ideas about how Thanksgiving originated. However, the above account is one that is traditionally accepted by Americans and the one that most people tend to believe.