Thanksgiving Day in the United States has been celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November since 1863, although many say that it has its origins from much further back. Like the Spanish “Thanksgiving Day” celebrated on the 8th of September in Florida since 1565 or the celebration that occurred at the Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts in 1621 is generally regarded as the traditional origin of modern day Thanksgiving in the United States.
Thanksgiving is modelled on the many harvest festivals that were common in Europe at the time and as more emigrants came to America from Germany, Ireland and Scotland, they each added their own bit of culture to the holiday. What ever its origins or how ever each of us celebrate Thanksgiving Day it is a time for family both near and far and to be thankful for what we have.
Happy Thanksgiving Day everyone.
