Thanksgiving is a special holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November and in Canada on the second Monday of October. It started as a way to thank God for the harvest. Today, it’s a time for people to be thankful for the good things in their lives and to enjoy a big meal together. Some of the yummy foods people eat on Thanksgiving include turkey, potatoes, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, stuffing, vegetables, and pumpkin pie.
The story of Thanksgiving begins in September 1620 when a group of 102 people, called Pilgrims, sailed on a ship named the Mayflower. They were looking for a new place to live and didn’t know how hard the journey would be. After sailing for 66 days, they reached Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts. The weather was very cold, and many people got sick, with some even passing away on the ship.
When spring came, the Pilgrims settled in a village called Plymouth. They met Native American tribes who had lived there for thousands of years. The Native Americans were very kind and taught the Pilgrims how to grow food in their new home. Without their help, the Pilgrims might not have survived the winter.
In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims were so happy about their successful harvest that they invited the Native Americans to join them for a big feast. This was the first Thanksgiving. Later, in 1623, it became a regular celebration called Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving didn’t become an official holiday until President Abraham Lincoln decided it should be celebrated on the last Thursday of November in 1863. Since then, people in the United States have celebrated Thanksgiving every year as a time to be thankful and spend time with family and friends.
While Thanksgiving is often seen as a happy gathering between the Pilgrims and Native Americans, it’s important to remember the difficult parts of this history. The arrival of the Pilgrims led to many challenges for the Native Americans, causing them a lot of pain and loss.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we should remember this history and try to make things better by being kind and caring to everyone. Recognizing the help and knowledge the Native Americans shared is an important part of this process.
Did you know that every year, a live turkey is given to the President of the United States, who then pardons it, allowing it to live on a farm? Also, about 88 percent of Americans enjoy turkey as part of their Thanksgiving meal!
Thanksgiving is a time to think about what we’re thankful for. As we gather with family and friends, let’s remember the history of this holiday and honor those who came before us. Thank you for learning about Thanksgiving, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Gratitude Journal: Start a gratitude journal where you write down three things you are thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving. Think about people, experiences, or things that make you happy. Share your favorite entry with your family during your Thanksgiving meal.
Recreate the First Thanksgiving Feast: With the help of an adult, try to prepare a simple dish that might have been served at the first Thanksgiving. You could make a small batch of cornbread or a simple vegetable dish. Discuss with your family how these foods might have been different from what we eat today.
Thanksgiving Math Challenge: Imagine you are planning a Thanksgiving meal for your family. If you have 8 people coming over and each person eats about 1/2 pound of turkey, how many pounds of turkey do you need in total? Use this equation to help you: $$text{Total Turkey Needed} = text{Number of People} times frac{1}{2}$$. Try to solve it and check your answer with an adult.
