Thanksgiving Day 2020: Date, history, significance and celebrations

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated annually in the United States, Brazil and many countries across the globe with various rituals. This day is celebrated to say thanks and recognize the sacrifices and blessings of the past year. It also marks the beginning of the holiday season. This year United States of America (USA) is observing Thanksgiving Day on November 26, 2020 (Thursday). Thanksgiving day is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada.

Thanksgiving Day history

The annual feast of Thanksgiving is to honour of the ‘first’ Thanksgiving in America, in 1619 in Virginia, and in 1621. During this time, the colonists in Plymouth, Massachusetts, later known as the Pilgrims, shared a meal with the Wampanoag Indians.

Therefore, the American tradition of Thanksgiving dates back to 1621 when the pilgrims did thanksgiving for their first bumper harvest in Plymouth Rock.

US Presidents including George Washington, John Adams and James Madison later declared a day of thanks throughout their presidencies. President Abraham Lincoln called for the celebration of a national Thanksgiving Day each November by the country.

Thanksgiving Day celebration

On this day, most Americans gather and express their thanks through with food, or family, and football. Thanksgiving Day is a special day as people write down the things they are thankful for and then read them aloud from the pieces of paper.

The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is held in the New York City along with the other celebrations of Thanksgiving day. It is the world’s largest Thanksgiving parade which consists of giant cartoon balloons that float above the sky accompanied by dancers and marching bands.

Countries celebrating Thanksgiving

Canada celebrates its Thanksgiving Day on the second Monday in October. Liberia celebrates Thanksgiving Day on the first Thursday of November.

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a month-long shopping festival for the winter holidays with Black Friday kicking off the season.