Thanksgiving takes place on the fourth Thursday every year in November. People celebrate Thanksgiving to give thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past year. The tradition dates back to 1621 when the Pilgrims, who had settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, held a feast to celebrate their first successful harvest with the help of the Native Americans in the area. It was a way to give thanks for their assistance and the harvest they received. Over time, it became a national holiday in the United States.
One of the most popular Thanksgiving Day Traditions in the US is the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a famous event held annually in New York City on Thanksgiving morning. This tradition started in 1924 and has since become a beloved tradition. The parade features huge arrays of giant balloons, floats, marching bands, and performances by celebrities and Broadway casts. The parade travels through the streets of Manhattan, where millions of spectators experience the parade both in person and on television. Some of people’s favorite highlights of the parade are the massive helium balloons shaped like popular characters, the festive holiday music, and the grand finale with Santa Claus and Mrs Claus when they signal the start of the Christmas season.
Another one of the most popular traditions to do as a family on Thanksgiving is eating Thanksgiving dinner then watching an American football game. A Thanksgiving Day with family would not be complete without the traditional meal. Some must-eats for dinner are turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and sweet potatoes. After everyone enjoys plenty of good food it’s the time to watch football. Football is the most popular sport to watch in the US and the idea of games played on Thanksgiving Day actually dates back as early as 1876. Families and friends gather around to watch their favorite teams compete in one of America’s favorite sports. The most popular teams to watch on Thanksgiving are the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.
Another popular tradition to do on Thanksgiving is giving back to those in need. In the spirit of being thankful and helping others, many communities across the US hold annual food drives that collect non-perishable packaged and canned foods for those in need. Some organizations also host Thanksgiving dinners for homeless people so that everyone has a place to enjoy a warm meal. Many food banks and food pantries will also deliver pre-prepared Thanksgiving meals or food boxes to senior citizens and people with disabilities who can’t do it themselves. The US really comes together as a nation on Thanksgiving to help their communities and people in need.
https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/efacademyblog/top-10-thanksgiving-traditions-in-the-us/
