Thanksgiving is a time for family gatherings, good food, and fun activities. The main dishes served during Thanksgiving include roast turkey, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Read on to know more about the traditions of Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving Day this year will be celebrated on Thursday, November 28 (Photo credit: Freepik)
New Delhi: Thanksgiving is a festival celebrated in the US, Canada, and many other countries. It is a national holiday in the US and Canada, whereas in other parts of the world, there is no holiday. This festival is observed differently in different countries. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions and dates back to 1620.
In this article, read on to know about the different traditions that are associated with Turkey Day.
What are the different traditions followed on Thanksgiving Day?
Travel
It is considered one of the most important things about Thanksgiving. It is a time to spend time with family members. Those who live far away travel long distances to meet their loved ones and spend time with them. On this day, it is one of the busiest travel days.
Turkey Pardon
Every year, the US President receives a gift from two live Turkeys. At the ceremony in the White House, the President pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkeys so they can live on a farm.
The Feast
Thanksgiving is mostly associated with great meals. Thanksgiving meals often include turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Many families serve pie for dessert, with popular flavours like pumpkin, pecan, sweet potato, and apple. Some families prefer vegetarian Thanksgiving dinners instead of turkey. They might eat vegetarian turkey made from tofu or enjoy squash, salads, and other fruit and vegetable dishes.
Post-meal
The food is eaten, and the dishes are washed. Some families ride bikes, go for walks or take naps. Others play board games or card games together.
Wishbone
Some families include breaking the turkey’s wishbone in their celebration. The wishbone is attached to the turkey’s breast. After the meat is removed and the wishbone dries out, two people take one end of the bone, make a wish, and pull it. The person who ends up with the larger piece of the bone gets their wish.
Watching Television
Many families enjoy watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The parade features marching bands, floats, songs, performances from Broadway musicals, and giant helium-filled balloons. People also like to watch football games.
Helping those in need
Thanksgiving is a great time to help those who may not be as fortunate. People volunteer to serve food at homeless shelters, donate to shelters, or take part in canned food drives.
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