Thanksgiving is an annual national holiday in the United States, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Its roots can be traced back to 1621 when the Pilgrims, early English settlers in Plymouth, Massachusetts, shared a harvest feast with the Wampanoag Native Americans. This event is often considered the "First Thanksgiving." However, the holiday didn't become officially recognized until much later. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day in 1863, during the American Civil War, as a way to foster unity and give thanks.
Today, Thanksgiving is a time for family gatherings, expressing gratitude, and enjoying traditional foods. The centerpiece of most Thanksgiving meals is roast turkey, often accompanied by stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Many Americans also watch football games or parades on TV, with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City being a popular tradition. The day after Thanksgiving, known as "Black Friday," marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season, with many stores offering significant discounts. In recent years, some people have also begun observing "Friendsgiving," a more casual celebration with friends, either instead of or in addition to the family-oriented Thanksgiving.
