I personally, am not a fan of Thanksgiving. It has a lot of food involved and really just, food and I, don't get on too well.
BUT. I really enjoy the feelings that come with it. I like to spend the day with my family, having a nice time. It's especially nice if people you haven't seen in a long time come over. It's a nice relaxing day, a day to look back on your life and see how much you have to be thankful for. That's what I think of it as anyways.
It is a day to give thanks for everything that one has achieved in the year. It started after the first harvest in the New World. It was a huge dinner to thank the native americans for helping the settlers survive and produce food.
Yeah, the traditional story is that one winter a group of pilgrims and Native Americans joined together for a meal. There has been some doubts by historians as to how accurate this story is. The modern meaning...have a turkey dinner, which traditionally includes things like stuffing, cranberry sause, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. If family is nearby (and sometimes even when they're not) the extended family gets together for the meal. A lot of people watch the football game. Kids make turkey and pilgrim crafts at school. And of course you're suppossed to talk about things you're thankful for...don't know how many actually do. Then the next day: Black Friday! A lot of stores open early and there are loads of sales...time for Christmas shopping. Or shopping just to shop 'cause there's good deals. Especially electronics-computers, tv's, etc.
Every day the world is made a chance to change but i feel the same.
And I wonder why would i wait till i die to come alive?"
All alone the way she feels
Left alone to deal with all the pain-drenched sorrow relief
Thanksgiving in the US is mostly traced to Abraham Lincoln and not the pilgrims etc. Abe made Thanksgiving a national holiday in the middle of the US civil war (which with over 600,000 dead is still the biggest war in this hemisphere. One day at Antietam had 23,000 casualties . )
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln William H. Seward,
Secretary of State
Thanksgiving in the US is mostly traced to Abraham Lincoln and not the pilgrims etc. Abe made Thanksgiving a national holiday in the middle of the US civil war (which with over 600,000 dead is still the biggest war in this hemisphere. One day at Antietam had 23,000 casualties . )
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln William H. Seward, Secretary of State
haha, I'm glad you did such research, but you won't see a play about the civil war in elementry schools. You will see tons of little children dressed up as pilgrims (some of the first europeans to come to america) and "indians" (slang for native americans). The pilgrims wear funny hats and the "indians" paint their faces and make "indian calls" and run around like the "wild men" they are. This is supposed to some how make us thankful that the native americans helped us out through the first long winters. Then we gave them small pox and took their land for ours. But I digress, it's like Christmas without the commercialism. Everyone gathers with family to be "thankful" and most eat turkey, mashed potatoes, canberries, and pumpkin pie.
And please excuse my bitterness, I've grown to hate all holidays. I used to love thanksgiving until my Grandfather died the day before it last year; this year Thanksgiving falls on his death day. Also digressing, sorry.
"In- in return?" Snape gaped at Dumbledore, and Harry expected him to protest, but after a long moment he said, "Anything."
I'm a crow chasing a butterfly.
I must become a lion-hearted girl, ready for a fight.
we celebrate thanksgiving at my house :) thats not helpful but im excited ^_^ :P xx
There are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you.
But there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.
I aint no abacus but you can count on me.
haha, I'm glad you did such research, but you won't see a play about the civil war in elementry schools. You will see tons of little children dressed up as pilgrims (some of the first europeans to come to america) and "indians" (slang for native americans). The pilgrims wear funny hats and the "indians" paint their faces and make "indian calls" and run around like the "wild men" they are. This is supposed to some how make us thankful that the native americans helped us out through the first long winters. Then we gave them small pox and took their land for ours.
I am in NY were the Indians sold the land (as they did in lots of places actually)
The schools should go back to emphasizing Lincoln since the pilgrim version was a common harvest celebration that has its roots in Europe and was continued in the US (just not as a national holiday until Abe). Sorry about grandfather
I am in NY were the Indians sold the land (as they did in lots of places actually)
The schools should go back to emphasizing Lincoln since the pilgrim version was a common harvest celebration that has its roots in Europe and was continued in the US (just not as a national holiday until Abe). Sorry about grandfather
I did not know that the native americans sold some land. But they still really did get jipped. That's politics I guess. I think getting Lincoln the main focus would be nice.
And thank you for the condolence.
"In- in return?" Snape gaped at Dumbledore, and Harry expected him to protest, but after a long moment he said, "Anything."
I'm a crow chasing a butterfly.
I must become a lion-hearted girl, ready for a fight.
I did not know that the native americans sold some land. But they still really did get jipped. That's politics I guess. I think getting Lincoln the main focus would be nice.
And thank you for the condolence.
They also fought with the British in the Revolution - and lost what they had (like the loyalists). I should also add the war did not take place because people didn't want to be British subjects. The wanted to be full British subjects but the King wasn't letting them.
Before the Revolution so much land was being bought from Indians the King issued a proclamation taking control of the situation so that things weren't running amok.
I think everyone should have that day. To be thankful for what you've got, not moan about what you haven't got. We're quite lucky, compared to some people. Saying that, we're also unlucky for those who have mental health & physical health problems, but in terms of having a roof over our heads, electricity, heating, food, clean water(for the most part!) & having friends & family who care & love us. I try to join in with that day & count my blessings.
Thanksgiving...people tend to gorge themselves on food. I think it's kind of gross. But, I just take it as a family sit down meal where people reflect upon what they are thankful for. We used to go around the table and state what we are thankful for...but we didn't do that this year...or last year, for that matter.
