MidwestMom
Nobility
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- Mar 3, 2014
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I can give you an overview, and if other Americans want to chime in, please do. Also, if the mods want to move this to another thread, I understand.
On July 4, 1776, the document known as the Declaration of Independence was signed by representatives of the original 13 colonies. It was a bold move declaring that those colonies are, by their own desire, free and independent from Great Britain. One of the signers was Benjamin Franklin, who said that ''this day should always be celebrated with fireworks and parades.'' The day is celebrated with many different festivities: town festivals, sports events, picnics, concerts, etc. Fireworks are traditional, and you see lots of red, white, and blue decorations on homes and businesses. It's also a popular day for new citizens to be sworn in.
Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November. It is a legal holiday - government offices are closed and there is no mail delivery. It's meant to be a commemoration of the celebration held in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621. The English settlers (known as Pilgrims, a very conservative religious sect that had fled England) had a hard time in the new country, and many of them died. They would have all died out had it not been for the help they received from the local Indians, who showed them how to grow food and helped them to survive. After the first successful harvest, the Indians and the Pilgrims had a great feast to celebrate. Tradition holds that one of the things served was turkey, a native American fowl. It's still traditional to have a turkey dinner on that day. Canada also has a national day of Thanksgiving on the first Monday in October, I think.
The true meaning of Thanksgiving, IMO, has been lost in the shuffle of the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. What used to be primarily a cozy family day, is now given over to football games and shopping. Many large cities, most notably New York City and Philadelphia, have parades on that day. The last unit in the parade is always Santa Claus on a sleigh.
Off topic and very personal: my husband died on Thanksgiving Day, so it's a difficult time for me and our sons. But I am grateful for the years we had, and for the family we raised.
Hope this hasn't been too long and boring.
On July 4, 1776, the document known as the Declaration of Independence was signed by representatives of the original 13 colonies. It was a bold move declaring that those colonies are, by their own desire, free and independent from Great Britain. One of the signers was Benjamin Franklin, who said that ''this day should always be celebrated with fireworks and parades.'' The day is celebrated with many different festivities: town festivals, sports events, picnics, concerts, etc. Fireworks are traditional, and you see lots of red, white, and blue decorations on homes and businesses. It's also a popular day for new citizens to be sworn in.
Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November. It is a legal holiday - government offices are closed and there is no mail delivery. It's meant to be a commemoration of the celebration held in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621. The English settlers (known as Pilgrims, a very conservative religious sect that had fled England) had a hard time in the new country, and many of them died. They would have all died out had it not been for the help they received from the local Indians, who showed them how to grow food and helped them to survive. After the first successful harvest, the Indians and the Pilgrims had a great feast to celebrate. Tradition holds that one of the things served was turkey, a native American fowl. It's still traditional to have a turkey dinner on that day. Canada also has a national day of Thanksgiving on the first Monday in October, I think.
The true meaning of Thanksgiving, IMO, has been lost in the shuffle of the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. What used to be primarily a cozy family day, is now given over to football games and shopping. Many large cities, most notably New York City and Philadelphia, have parades on that day. The last unit in the parade is always Santa Claus on a sleigh.
Off topic and very personal: my husband died on Thanksgiving Day, so it's a difficult time for me and our sons. But I am grateful for the years we had, and for the family we raised.
Hope this hasn't been too long and boring.