Thanksgiving Day (known in English as Thanksgiving Day) it is a holiday mostly celebrated in the U.S and in the Canada.
In the United States, it is celebrated every fourth Thursday of November, and in Canada, every second Monday of October.
As the name implies, Thanksgiving is a date when people come together and show their gratitude to God for the blessings received during the past year.
It is also a time to express affection for friends and family. This is one of the most important holidays in the United States and Canada, along with Christmas and New Years. It is a family holiday, in which it is normal to take long trips so that relatives are together.
Another great tradition of this holiday is the food, families celebrate this day with great gastronomic abundance. Turkey is typically eaten (this is why it is also known as turkey day - Peru Day), sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, apple pie, walnut pie, among other things.
Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanksgiving Day Origin (Thanksgiving Day)
The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in the United States in Plymouth, Massachusetts, by the founding pilgrims of the village.
After the crops were severely damaged by the harsh winter, the settlers had a good corn crop in the summer of 1621. To celebrate the occasion, the village governor organized a party in the fall of 1621.
About 90 Indians participated in this party and were served ducks, turkeys, fish and corn. Beginning that year, in New England, each autumn a feast of gratitude to God was organized, in thanks for the good harvests.
In 1863, Abraham Lincoln (president of the United States at the time) announced that the fourth Thursday in November would be the National Thanksgiving Day.
See also the meanings of Christmas and Gratitude.
Thanksgiving Day in Brazil
In Brazil this is not a common commemorative date on the national calendar. However, in 1966, Law No. 5.110/66 established that Thanksgiving celebrations in the country would take place on the fourth Thursday of November.
Usually, the date is remembered by American families and by some Christian churches Protestants, such as: Lutheran Church IELB (American origin), Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist and Church of the Nazarene. Methodist universities and English courses also commemorate the date.
Fun Facts About Thanksgiving
There is a ceremony on Thanksgiving Day where the American president forgives two turkeys (one official and one reserve). Thus, it would save the animals from the same fate as the other 46 million turkeys - the estimated number of turkeys that are eaten during the holiday.
The holiday is also known for grand parades. The best known of all is the Macy's in New York, in which hundreds of media figures and characters from the world of children and fantasy participate as Mickey, Spiderman, among others. A game of American football is also played on Thanksgiving Day, one of the most popular sports in the United States.
The Friday after Thanksgiving is known as sexta-feira Negra (Black Friday in Portuguese). On that day, several stores do amazing promotions.
It is common for stores to become overcrowded. There are even episodes of disputes for the most popular products and with the best promotions.
Learn more about sexta-feira Negra.