An official holiday in the US.
Historically a harvest festival, a day dedicated to expressing gratitude for the “blessings of the harvest” and the preceding year.
Celebrated annually on the 4th Thursday of November
Key Traditions:
- The Feast: The centerpiece is almost always a roasted turkey. Traditional sides include stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
- The Wishbone: Two people pull apart the turkey’s wishbone; the person who gets the larger piece gets to make a wish.
- Football: Watching NFL football is a massive tradition, with the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys always hosting games.
- Macy’s Parade: A huge parade in New York City with giant balloons, broadcast nationally in the morning.
- Black Friday: The day after Thanksgiving marks the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season with massive sales.