What is your reason of celebrating Thanksgiving?
831900
First of all the word Thanks giving came about when the pilgrims\nand indians came together and feast in peace and harmony. That is why we feast every year to remember not only what we are thankful for but to remember those who created this wonderful holiday!
885267
there are two thanksgivings in the americas.  canada celebrates theirs in october & we, in the usa celebrate ours on the third thursday of each november.  the friday following thanksgiving is almost as famous, known as 'black friday'.  it's the shopping day of the year but that's another story.  the origin of thanksgiving goes back to the very early 1600s when the english colonists came to america with the barest of necessities and had to make it through a very harsh, cold winter.  if it wasn't for the help of the native americans, the narragansett (i believe), the settlers would've died. the natives  supplied the yams, wild turkeys, corn & showed to the settlers not only the native foods to eat but how to prepare them.  a giant feast was held with native americans & colonists in attendance.  it was a splendid  beginning but alas, not to last.  sad to say but within 20 years, both sides were at war.  the colonists came to america with the idea of land ownership & the natives couldn't understand that.  land, to them, was something to share.  anyway, you asked & that's the real story.  i personally feel of all the american holidays, thanksgiving is the greatest.  it still signifies sharing, friends, food & giving.  nothing is really asked of you except to come to the table & give of yourself without asking for anything back. neat, eh?
389664
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
554908
Gotta be Thanksgiving - family, food, and fun - and none of the outlandish expense of Christmas! Not to mention the stress - Thanksgiving is just such a great laid back holiday - I love it!
752258
Where are you from?  Thanksgiving is the 3rd thursday of November.\nChristmas is December 25th.  Yes, all USA celebrates it, don't know about all Americans.
968440
It is a holiday that began with the first English settlers in America. Their voyage was long and hard, and after they arrived, they nearly starved in the first year. But the second year they had an excellent harvest, and they were thus blessed with a relative bounty of food to eat. They decided to have a party to celebrate 1) their good fortune for a good harvest, 2) the now fairly obvious fact that the colony would be successful, and 3) their faith in God, not necessarily in that order. They invited the local Indians to the celebration and they all had a very good time. Thereafter they decided to repeat the party every year, to mostly celebrate their good harvest. In today's world, it is a family gathering time that is usually free from the commercialism that has grown up around Christmas, Easter, the Fourth of July, etc. The traditional dish is roast turkey, because it is a large bird that is native to America and was thought to be the main dish at the original celebration. Other traditional foods for Thanksgiving include pumpkin pie and perhaps something made out of corn (maize), something made from sweet potatoes, and something made out of cranberries since these were the newfound foods that are native to the American continent that the early settlers were able to obtain in quantity, and they were largely new and different from what they were used to eating in the British Isles. If you are a new arrival in America, please have a happy Thanksgiving! Perhaps you can also celebrate your own safe travel across the Atlantic to the new world!
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...
973500
Things are great and Happy Thanksgiving to you too!!!!!!!\n Love your name!!!!!!!
841994
In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north. \n\nThe history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay. \n\nAt the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.\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, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie.\n\nEventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.\n\nFinally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed...\n\n"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed  ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.\n\nHope this helps.
253270
Thanksgiving is my personal favorite because it has that "Ahh, the whole family is here together!" feeling but isn't over-commercialized like Christmas. It also has a great theme that seems to bring out the good in people. Plus, boy do I love turkey! ...and pumkin pie...and turkey sandwich leftovers...YUM!
952296
Yes, One nice thing about Thanksgiving is the people who break bread with us love us and are with us for that reason,not for your gravy LOL. Also, I bet it`s not as bad as you think.God bless and enjoy your day and friends
764823
to stay home and the rest of my family is coming to my house. thanks for asking\n\n\nHappy Thanksgiving!!
926639
Depends on where I'm at, if I'm at my place or my parents' place, or if I'm at my aunt and uncle's place.\n\nAt my uncle's, I think we get there in time to go to Thanksgiving services(my uncle's a Lutheran minister), then on Thanksgiving itself, it's the usual football and feast thing. Although I can't recall if they have the turkey, as it's been quite a few years since we've been there for Thanksgiving. Prayers are said, of course, heh, that's to be expected considering my uncle's profession.\n\nAt my parents' place, there's no going to service. I'm not even sure if the church my parents attend even has one. I think around here, some do, some don't. I think their church may just have the Thanksgiving service the Sunday before. Uncle's church is bigger, probably why they have the service. Parents' church is smaller, maybe that's the difference.\n\nOh well, when I'm at their place, there's no services at any rate. Usually prepare the turkey and feast, the guys of the family watch football or play video games on the computer, and we sometimes watch the parades. Macy's has kinda gone downhill for me since I was a kid, so sometimes we watch at my mom's, sometimes not. Pretty simple. Prayers are said at the meal, as well as saying what we're thankful for.\n\nMy place, there's no services(I'm an atheist). I'm up at 5 or so to get up, dressed, and work on the bird. Hubby-to-be and I aren't fond of football, so we don't watch that. Might watch a parade if any of them are any good, otherwise he flips channels or puts a movie in while I'm working on the food.\n\nFor the feast, no prayers are said(I allow individual people to pray, but I don't do group prayers like at my uncle's or parents'). I tend to put more importance on what we're grateful for than WHO we're thanking. I also tend to pass out and go to sleep once the meal's done. I think Dad and the guys end up watching football.\n\nSometimes we do family games like play cards or dominoes during football or the afternoon when we're not all so stuffed and sleepy.\n\nThanksgiving for us is usually more about the food and family, though the more religious members of my family tend to put the religious angle into it. I don't do that personally. Like I said, I tend to put more focus on family, food, and being grateful that we're even still alive from one year to the next, rather than religion.\n\nGood luck on your report! :)
725825
It's about giving Thanks for the things we have. To be cherful and be together with family and friends. To share what we have with other's who do not have so much. It's about the feeling you get when you help some one out of troubles. It's when you feel the love that comes from spreading the cheers. That is what Thanksgiving is all about.
784634
I'm thankful things are as well as they are but I wish I was with my family.  The main thing it to be thankful every day for everything in your life and to love your family while there's time since we never know when it might be the last chance to do so. God bless!
912801
Thanksgiving is the national day of...thanksgiving.  It was made a holiday by President Lincoln to help heal the scars of the Civil War.  Meant to symbolize the thanksgiving feast the Pilgrims had with the Native Americans after the winter and near-drought of the first year of settlement (the Native Americans basically kept the settlers alive, introducing them to native crops such as corn and lima beans and regional seafood like lobster and cod), the feast is actually an invitation for families to come back together and for the nation itself to put aside the bickering for just one day and eat and enjoy each other just for the sake of family.  Unfortunately, the pureness of the day is tainted by the fact that it marks the beginning of the Christmas buying season, but what can we do about that?  Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November.\n\nI'm not sure what I'm thankful for yet; I haven't made up my mind.  There are so many things I am grateful for, but that one thing I am thankful for...I need to put more thought into it.
727369
The first Thanksgiving was the colonists sharing the bounty of their first successful harvest with the native people who helped them to initially survive.\nThe idea now is to be thankful for the good things we enjoy in our lives like family and friends.