THANKSGIVING break
A simple day of celebrating the blessings and harvest we’ve received, this is a holiday of pure happiness and enjoyment as we all share together the blessings we have received. Everything is more enjoyable when it’s shared together, right? By getting together with your families and friends for a huge meal, traditionally including roasted turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, vegetable, gravy, and pumpkin pie. In some certain places, they celebrate their Thanksgiving with parades and the like during the long weekend of Thanksgiving.
During this day, most government offices, businesses, universities, schools, colleges, and other organizations are closed. More workplaces allow their workers to have the long four day weekend for Thanksgiving, which means these workplaces are also closed on the holidays succeeding Thanksgiving. It is also one of the busiest periods for travel in the USA. This can cause congestion and overcrowding. Seasonal parades and busy football games can also cause disruption to local traffic.
There are also many Thanksgiving traditions besides the widely known usual meals. During the meal, families may break the turkey bone; and whoever breaks it may be granted a wish. Also, The President of the United States traditionally lets a turkey live on a farm without the threat of being eaten. Some people like to do charity work as well, by serving preparing meals for the homeless, organizing food and clothing for them and participating in community outreach programs.
One of the largest parades to honor Thanksgiving in New York’s Thanksgiving Parade, currently called ‘Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’. It begins in the morning, going down at Central Park to Macy’s Herald Square on the 34th street.
This started in 1924 and now over two million people attend the parade annually. It is the second oldest parade, next to Detroit’s Thanksgiving parade.
Not only the United States of America celebrates this; Canada, Germany, Netherlands, and Japan have this holiday as well. In Canada, it is very much similar to how it is celebrated in America. Their celebration takes place in October where it is much warmer. Germany celebrates it in October as well; in which just like the American traditions, they celebrate it with a feast and some religious traditions. In Japan, their thanksgiving started with the roots of celebrating the harvests, now celebrates labor, production, and thankfulness. Lastly, The Netherlands observes a Thanksgiving Day service to honor the Pilgrims that lived in Leiden before continuing on to Plymouth.
How’s your thanksgiving celebration? Do not forget to celebrate the day with feelings of thankfulness in mind!
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