Celebrating Thanksgiving

Traditions and events that revolve around this most important holiday of the year in America.

Thanksgiving is a major national holiday throughout The United States and Canada. Taking place on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada, Thanksgiving is as important as other major religious events like Christmas and dates back hundreds of years. As the name signifies, Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful and it is traditionally celebrated with religious ceremonies and dinners; usual menus include oven roasted turkey and pumpkin pie.

One of the many traditions revolving around Thanksgiving is the President's pardoning of the turkey; a bizarre yet old tradition started in 1947. The President of The United States will formally pardon a live Thanksgiving turkey and spare it from being prepared as dinner. The pardoning of the turkey is a continuing White House tradition that captures the attention of the public, however strange it may seem.

People from all over America and Canada become involved with the festivities each individual family, person or group celebrate in their own way. Every year in New York there is a Thanksgiving Day parade held by Macy's department store, the tradition started back in 1924 (making it the second oldest thanksgiving parade in the United States). The 3 hour parade takes place in New York City starting at 9:00am on Thanksgiving Day.

As well as the USA and Canada Thanksgiving is also celebrated around the world in other countries such as Germany, Japan, Liberia, The Netherlands and Grenada. Although the day itself is not always the same the meaning and significance is celebrated accordingly.