Thanksgiving Day in the United States is a significant holiday traditionally celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. This holiday has its roots in early colonial times as a harvest festival, and it is a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the preceding year.

Table of Contents

1. When is Thanksgiving Day?
2. The History of Thanksgiving Day?
3. What Do People Do on This Day?
4. National Football League (NFL) and Thanksgiving Day

When is Thanksgiving Day?

In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. The following is the list of Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

The History of Thanksgiving Day?

The history of Thanksgiving Day in the United States is rooted in early colonial history. Long before Europeans arrived, various Native American tribes celebrated the end of the harvest season with feasting and merriment. The English and Europeans also had a tradition of celebrating after the harvest was complete, thanking God for the bounty.

The "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. This feast lasted three days, and it was attended by the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. However, the early celebration was more of a religious observance, and it wasn't called "Thanksgiving" at that time.

In 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation naming Thursday, November 26, a "Day of Public Thanksgiving" – the first time Thanksgiving was celebrated under the new Constitution. In the 19th century, Sarah Hale, an influential magazine editor and author, campaigned for Thanksgiving to be a national holiday.

• In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln heeded Hale's request and scheduled Thanksgiving for the final Thursday in November. It was celebrated on that day every year until 1939.
• In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up a week to help boost retail sales during the Great Depression. This change was met with much controversy.
• In 1941, Congress passed a law that established Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November, where it remains today.

What Do People Do on This Day?

On Thanksgiving Day, people in the United States engage in various traditions and activities that are centered around family, food, and giving thanks. Here are five common ways to celebrate:

• Family Gatherings and Meals: The most prominent feature of Thanksgiving is the gathering of family and friends for a large meal. This often includes people traveling long distances to be with loved ones./li>
• Traditional Foods: The Thanksgiving meal typically includes turkey, stuffing (or dressing), mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, various fall vegetables, and pumpkin pie. Some families include dishes from their cultural heritage or family recipes that have been passed down through generations.
• Football Games: Watching football on Thanksgiving Day is a long-standing American tradition. The National Football League (NFL) has games scheduled throughout the day.
• Watching Parades: Many people watch Thanksgiving parades, the most famous being the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. These parades often feature large balloons, floats, marching bands, and performances.
• Rest and Relaxation: For many, Thanksgiving is a day to relax, enjoy the company of others, and perhaps indulge in a nap after the feast.

Each family tends to develop its own traditions and ways of celebrating, making Thanksgiving a very personal and unique holiday for many.

National Football League (NFL) and Thanksgiving Day

The National Football League (NFL) and Thanksgiving Day have a long and intertwined history. Thanksgiving Day football games have been a tradition since the league's inception, and they've become an integral part of the holiday celebrations for many Americans.

The National Football League (NFL) is the premier professional American football league in the United States and is widely popular. The league consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC).

• Regular Season: The NFL regular season typically runs from early September to early January, with each team playing 17 games over an 18-week period.
• Playoffs: Following the regular season, the top teams from each conference enter the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament culminating in the Super Bowl.
• Super Bowl: This is the championship game of the NFL, played between the winners of the NFC and AFC. It's held on the first Sunday in February and is one of the most-watched sporting events globally.

Thanksgiving games are often among the most-watched and most memorable of the regular season, given the holiday's national audience. Players who perform well in these games can gain national recognition, given the larger-than-normal audience.