On the Origin and Significance of Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving is a holiday that allows us to feel the beauty and warmth of life. It has a rich historical and cultural background, as well as diverse ways and meanings of celebration. Let's explore the origin and significance of Thanksgiving together!
Thanksgiving can be traced back to 1621, when a group of Puritans, also known as "Pilgrims," who came from England to North America established a colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They suffered famine and disease in the first winter, and many people died. Fortunately, they received help from the local Native Americans, the Wampanoag tribe, who taught them how to grow crops such as corn, pumpkins, and beans. In the autumn of the following year, they harvested abundant food and decided to hold a grand celebration to thank God and the Native Americans for their grace. This is the first Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving gradually became an important holiday in the United States, usually celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. Thanksgiving is not only a day for family reunion, but also a day to express gratitude and respect for life, society, country, faith, and other aspects. Thanksgiving has many traditions and customs, such as:
Eating Turkey: Turkey is the main dish for Thanksgiving dinner, usually paired with seasonings such as pumpkin pie, corn tortillas, and cranberry sauce. The turkey symbolizes abundance and contentment, and is also one of the national birds of the United States.
Watch Rugby: Rugby is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and there are several important rugby matches held every Thanksgiving, with the most famous being the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. Many people watch these games on TV or organize some friendly matches themselves.
Participated in Parade: Parade activities are a joyful and lively form, with many parades held every year on Thanksgiving, the most famous of which is the Thanksgiving Parade organized by Macy's Department Store in New York City. This parade has been watched or participated in by millions of people every year since 1924. During the parade, there will be various floats, balloons, bands, celebrities, and other performances.
Thanksgiving is not only a festival with historical and cultural connotations, but also a festival with social and psychological functions. It can help us:
Enhancing Social Cohesion: Thanksgiving is a holiday that spans racial, social, regional, and political differences. On this day, people forget their differences and conflicts and celebrate the establishment and development of the United States as a nation. On this day, people also care about their communities and organizations, participate in volunteer services and charitable activities, and help those in need. On this day, people will also express respect and gratitude to American soldiers and heroes, supporting their contributions to national and world peace and security.
Strengthen family relations: Thanksgiving Day is a festival that attaches importance to interaction and communication between family members. On this day, people will spend time with their parents, children, spouses, brothers, sisters and other relatives, share their life experiences and feelings, and solve their family problems and contradictions. On this day, people will also inherit their family traditions and culture, tell their family history and stories, and cultivate their family honor and identity. On this day, people will also educate their next generation, impart their family philosophy and values, and cultivate their sense of responsibility towards society and the country.
Improving personal quality: Thanksgiving is a holiday that values personal emotions and psychology. On this day, people reflect on everything they have done in the past year, appreciate everything they have, and appreciate everything they encounter. On this day, people will cultivate their gratitude mentality, learn to cherish and respect, learn to give and return, learn to be satisfied and optimistic.
