Thanksgiving will be celebrated on the 28th of November this year.
What is it?
It’s a national holiday celebrated by Americans and Canadians all over the world. Every year in the US it’s celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November and a long weekend is taken. Canada has a Thanksgiving Day in October.
What’s the thanking about?
Thanking for a variety of reasons; giving thanks for family, for health, for friends. It’s a very positive time, filled with happy memories, and many people travel a long way to visit their loved ones over this weekend.
How’s it celebrated?
No gifts are exchanged. The focus is on giving thanks and spending time with the family.
Great emphasis is placed on the Thanksgiving meal which is traditionally turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and the iconic pumpkin pie! There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options too.
Fun facts:
- Did you know that it’s traditional for the President of the USA to pardon 1 or 2 turkeys each year?! They’re spared from slaughter and instead are sent to a farm for retirement!
- It’s also traditional for the wishbone from the turkey to be set aside so that, once the meal is over, 2 people can make their wishes and break the bone. It’s said that the one who ends up with the bigger piece will have their wishes granted and good luck all year!
This weekend also sees a lot of football matches, particularly NFL ones, being played.
Parades in cities and towns across the US are also popular over Thanksgiving.
New York City’s department store, Macy’s, has the largest and most famous parade in the world. This spectacular of marching bands, performers and elaborate floats, is watched by millions.
Volunteering is also popular over Thanksgiving with individuals and communities doing what they can for the less fortunate. Thanksgiving meals for those in need are common.
Where does Thanksgiving come from?
It’s believed that it began in 1621 after a feast was shared, over 3 days, by the Pilgrims of Plymouth (English colonists) and the Wampanoag people, to celebrate their first harvest. This sealed a treaty between the two groups, and it has been celebrated nationally, on and off, since 1789 when George Washington declared it a day of public thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is one of the most important cultural days in USA.
It’s when we show our appreciation to our families, friends and colleagues.
Here at the British Hamper Company, we have a wide range of luxury food hampers ideal for doing just this at Thanksgiving. Exciting large hampers for the whole family, exquisite little hampers for individuals and a range dedicated for those with special dietary needs, all carefully packed, beautifully presented and waiting to be enjoyed!
Containing award-winning food from Britain’s leading artisan producers, we offer tracked express Thanksgiving delivery to USA, across the UK, Europe and beyond.
Happy Thanksgiving!