How we celebrate Thanksgiving in the USA.

Celebrated annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November, the holiday of Thanksgiving was first observed in 1621 and continues to be an American tradition today. Thanksgiving means many things to different people but for most, the holiday of Thanksgiving is synonymous with festive meals, parades, football, family and friends, and, of course, turkey. For many, it's also about spending time together, catching up and enjoying one another's company. The Thanksgiving holiday is a reminder to give thanks for the good things, people and providential events in our lives. If you want to know how to celebrate Thanksgiving in style, just follow these steps.

History of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a harvest festival and an important public holiday which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States. Thanksgiving has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789, after a proclamation by George Washington.[1]It has been celebrated as a federal holiday every year since 1863, when, during theAmerican Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens", to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November.[2] Together with Christmas and New Year, Thanksgiving is a part of the broader holiday season by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 and approved by Congress in 1941. 

The First Thanksgiving 1621, oil on canvas by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1899). American joke about the native population.

The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in 1621. This feast lasted three days, and it was attended Native Americans and Pilgrims. The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating "thanksgivings"—days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.
This is what conquerors think. But what about Indians? Many Native Americans see Thanksgiving in a negative light and refer to it as ‘a day of mourning’ in memory of the injustices their ancestors faced at the hands of pilgrims.

On the last Thursday of November each year, many people remember the REAL history behind “Thanksgiving Day”. They do not feast on turkeys in celebration; rather they mourn and fast with friends, family, and loved ones for the gruesome genocide committed towards the Native Americans by European settlers.

These Days Thanksgiving Day is traditionally a day for families and friends to get together for a special meal. Thanksgiving Day is a time for many people to give thanks for what they have.
We keep this tradition in America since my youngest daughter was born in this country, plus it's a reason to get together as whole family.

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2015

Stuffing, Dressing and Filling: Thanksgiving Across America.

Classic Thanksgiving dishes:
Turkey: and/or ham, goose and duck or turduken
Stuffing (also known as dressing): a mix of bread cubes, chopped celery, carrots, onions and sage stuffed inside the turkey for roasting. Chestnuts, chopped bacon or sausage, and raisins or apples are also sometimes included in the stuffing.
Mashed potatoes with gravy
Sweet potatoes: often served as candied sweet potatoes, sometimes topped with marshmallows
Butternut squash
Corn
Green beans
Cranberry sauce
Plain bread rolls, savory biscuits or corn bread (popular in the southern US states and some parts of New England)
Pies: pumpkin pies are most common, but pecan, apple, sweet potato and mincemeat pies are also quite popular.

American supermarkets are reported to sell more food at Thanksgiving than at any other time of the year. And many people eat more food at Thanksgiving than at any other time of the year.

The joke goes among Russians:" What did poor this turkey, even among Russian joke goes: what did this poor turkey, that she has to take the rap every year?

We don't use these american tradition food, we use Russian New Year's dishes, such as chicken, salad, cabbage pies, barbecue, but in everything else we adhere to the American traditions.

Having an Amazing Thanksgiving.

We Make the table festive. We Arrange the table decorations the two weeks before Thanksgiving. I bought a Thanksgiving-themed centerpiece or create your own for display on the table. Ready-made centerpieces or DIY kits can be found at any craft store. But I love Thanksgiving's stuff from Pottery Barn kids.

We Enjoy some traditional Thanksgiving holiday pursuits. You do these things before, during, or after you eat our Thanksgiving meal. There are a few traditions associated with the Thanksgiving holiday that are enjoyed in many families, and here are a few things that you can do:
- We Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV with the kids. Broadcast on television from New York City, the parade is extremely popular and viewed by millions at home. Take a break and attend a local Thanksgiving parade if time permits, or watch it on television. The second popular parade in the USA is Philadelphia Parade.

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- Or we gather to watch old Russian Holiday films on TV.

Thanksgiving Weekend in Philadelphia means the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, the return of beloved annual holiday attractions and much more. (Photo by M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia)

All schools and child care celebrate  Thanksgiving the day or two before this Day. Usually stuff from childcare prepares for parents theme songs and lunch for kids.  The whole week before the holiday, they draw themed pictures and learn poems, make decoration like Indian jewelry, decoration for classes.

The Goddard School, Gaithersburg conducted an event for children and parents. Children sang songs for their parents. For children, the school has prepared a small dinner party.

Usually all activities (matinees for children) in the childcare are rare and short. Each parent, including daddy, trying not to miss a holiday.

The children made themselves a crown and beads in Indian style.

Public schools usually have pajama's day the day before Thanksgiving. They have small celebration at school but parents are not invited here. 

I was wonder that in our school teaches entertain children, but not students entertain teaches as in Russia. Kids have early release. Whole week before Holiday they make decoration or just simple pictures about Thanksgiving, learn the history of this festival, singing theme songs.

Elementary school teachers , not students, are entertain his disciples. This time, the school provided sport competitions among teachers. It is noteworthy, that any event in the school, even the beginning of the school day begins with the US national anthem.

                                    

The woman in pink pajamas is headmaster in our school. Did you see the same funny situation in Russia?

It's time for charity.
Thanksgiving is also a time when Americans share what they have with people who do not have as much. All across the country, thousands of groups provide Thanksgiving meals for older adults, poor people and the homeless. Many Americans give turkeys or other food to these organizations; schools organize food collection drives for Thanksgiving. Some people spend part of the holiday helping to prepare and serve meals.

More than any other American holiday, Thanksgiving celebrates family and home. On Thanksgiving, many people enjoy a long day of cooking, talking and eating. Thanks to the US government for a day off for all workers.