2006-11-22 08:10:59 · 10 answers · asked by Emily 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Thanksgiving
It is a holiday that began with the first English settlers in America. Their voyage was long and hard, and after they arrived, they nearly starved in the first year. But the second year they had an excellent harvest, and they were thus blessed with a relative bounty of food to eat. They decided to have a party to celebrate 1) their good fortune for a good harvest, 2) the now fairly obvious fact that the colony would be successful, and 3) their faith in God, not necessarily in that order. They invited the local Indians to the celebration and they all had a very good time. Thereafter they decided to repeat the party every year, to mostly celebrate their good harvest. In today's world, it is a family gathering time that is usually free from the commercialism that has grown up around Christmas, Easter, the Fourth of July, etc. The traditional dish is roast turkey, because it is a large bird that is native to America and was thought to be the main dish at the original celebration. Other traditional foods for Thanksgiving include pumpkin pie and perhaps something made out of corn (maize), something made from sweet potatoes, and something made out of cranberries since these were the newfound foods that are native to the American continent that the early settlers were able to obtain in quantity, and they were largely new and different from what they were used to eating in the British Isles. If you are a new arrival in America, please have a happy Thanksgiving! Perhaps you can also celebrate your own safe travel across the Atlantic to the new world!
2006-11-22 08:14:31 · answer #1 · answered by Sciencenut 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's an American holiday (as in day off, not vacation). Traditionally, we get together with family and/or friends to acknowledge what we are thankful for in the previous year. Turkey and ham are the most common main dishes served. Pumpkin pie is a very common dessert.
Hope this answers your question!
p.s. It's my personal favorite of all the holidays!
2006-11-22 16:15:16 · answer #2 · answered by sweetsum691 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its when the Pilgrims came to the USA and struggled agriculturally, so the Native Americans helped them grow and harvest their crops. Then the Pilgrims shared their surplus with the Native Americans in a great feast. They were giving thanks to the Native Americans, so on the day of Thanksgiving (the third Thursday in November every year) we have our own feasts. :-) Happy Thanksgiving!
2006-11-22 16:14:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thanksgiving is when American Indians and American Pilgrams came together years ago to have a meal together. Giving thanks for food, life, each other. The pilgrams and indians had to learn to live in this country together. The day is celebrated to give thanks to all.
2006-11-22 16:14:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The day white people celebrate stealing the land from the Indians.
2006-11-22 16:14:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It was the day the Pilgrims had a dinner w/ the Indians and they were giving thanks for begin alive after all the hardship they had to endure.
2006-11-22 16:41:24 · answer #6 · answered by Annie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We celebrate the beginning of our country!!
2006-11-22 16:16:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a Holiday
:> peace
.
2006-11-26 01:06:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a big sale on turkeys...
2006-11-22 16:12:12 · answer #9 · answered by cork 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgivings
this will give everthing u need to know about thanks giving
2006-11-22 16:14:03 · answer #10 · answered by bobby b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋