Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October. But, why do they do that? Why doesnt Canada celebrate Thanksgiving the same day as the United States? Basically, Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks and is not based on a historical date like Christmas. So, the entire world does not celebrate Thanksgiving and even those that do frequently celebrate on different dates than the United States. Canada is a perfect example.

Canadas Thanksgiving is based on a bountiful harvest and not on the Pilgrims and the New World like the Unites States holiday. The reason it occurs earlier than the US Thanksgiving is that Canada is north of the United States and because of this the harvest season occurs earlier during the year. So, it only makes sense for Canada to celebrate its fall harvest during their fall and harvest time!

The First Canadian Thanksgiving

Amazingly, the first Canadian Thanksgiving goes back even further than the United States. Back in 1578 an English explorer named Martin Frobisher was trying to find a northern route to the Orient. He was not successful in his quest, but he did end up establishing a settlement somewhere along what is Newfoundland today. Despite not making it to the Orient Frobisher was thankful the journey had been safe and decided to have a day of thanks. This resulted in the first Canadian Thanksgiving.

During this same time frame many French settlers were making their way to the area and also began having days of thanks during the harvest time. They, like the American Pilgrims, invited local Indians to take part in their feast.

This is how the Canadian Thanksgiving started and why they dont celebrate on the same day as the United States. This is a nice little piece of information to take with you so you know why our northern neighbors celebrate on a different date and also the reason why they celebrate!

There are lots of myths about why Thanksgiving is actually called Thanksgiving. And, to tell the truth, the common belief by most Americans about why we actually call this special day Thanksgiving might have been fudged somewhat. Regardless, the reason we believe to be the truth is just as good as some of the other claims out there so we will talk about Thanksgiving and why we call the fourth Thursday in November Thanksgiving.

In 1621 the Pilgrims had a good harvest and were thankful that they had made it to the New World and were actually surviving and prospering. So, in order to celebrate all of their gifts and good luck the Pilgrims decided to have a harvest festival and a day of thanks. They celebrated with venison, fowl, fresh vegetables, and maybe some pumpkin desserts. Also, the day was made up of sports, conversing with friends, and simply resting after a long harvest. The Indians were invited to also share in the festival and many of them did. The original Thanksgiving was not as much of a religious day as it was a festival of thanksgiving. This day of thanks for all of their blessings resulted in the appropriate name for the holiday: Thanksgiving.

Of course, if you dont believe the old Pilgrim story and many dont then you may have your own opinion of why we call Thanksgiving what we do. However, todays holiday is based around giving thanks to God for our friends, family, homes, jobs, and all of our blessings. So, there really is no better name for this holiday than Thanksgiving i.e. giving thanks.

What are You Thankful For?

Thanksgiving is about a month away and lots of families are starting to make travel plans and decide where to celebrate the holiday. Because of this it is easy to allow the holiday to become hectic and crazy and never really enjoy it. However, if you are going to celebrate Thanksgiving make sure you celebrate it with the real feeling that is behind the holiday. Focus on being thankful for all of your blessings. Give thanks to God, to your family, and friends for all of their help and for allowing you to prosper yet another year. Dont let yourself become upset over the ratrace of celebrating with two sets of families and feeling rushed get you down. Instead, be thankful that you have another day to share with your families and extended family. Looking at Thanksgiving in this light will make it a lot easier for you to give thanks rather than focusing on the hustle and bustle going on around you. Just remember what you are thankful for and Thanksgiving should be an enjoyable time.

You are separated or divorced and have children. Most of the year you deal with ok but when it comes to the holidays things can get a little stressful. Thanksgiving starts off the holiday season and determining who gets the kids for Thanksgiving can be stressful and just a painful decision for both parents involved. There are a few tips that might help you decide who gets the kids for Thanksgiving, but the most important thing to keep in mind is being cordial with your ex-spouse. Doing this is important for your children because that person continues being their mother or father. Respect here is important, despite how you really feel. As long as you have open communication where the children are concerned you will be able to work out a good holiday schedule that is acceptable to everyone.

Switch Off
A common way of handling who gets the kids for Thanksgiving, which inevitably brings up Christmas, is to simply switch off. This year the mother gets the kids for Thanksgiving and the father gets the kids for Christmas. The following year the mother gets the kids for Christmas and the father gets the kids for Thanksgiving. Rotating each year like this allows kids to associate both holidays with both families and the traditions that go along with each. Its a great way for the kids to still celebrate both holidays with both sets of families even if it is every other year.

Share the Day
For ex-spouses who live relatively close to one another sharing the day can work out well. Many families celebrate Thanksgiving at lunch and others at dinner. So, one parent could have the children for Thanksgiving lunch and the other parent for Thanksgiving dinner. If family obligations occur at the same meal then everyone should try and work together to do whats in the best interest for the kids. Dont feel bad about asking grandma to celebrate Thanksgiving at supper this year so the kids can be there even though she usually celebrates for lunch. It takes an entire family to get through divorce and make holidays special for the kids. So, do everything it takes to make the day special for the children.

Let the Kids Decide
Sometimes it is best to let the kids decide which holiday they want to spend with which parent. Give the kids a piece of paper and ask them to write down whether they want to spend Thanksgiving with mommy or daddy. Remind them that they will have to spend Christmas with the parent they choose not to spend Thanksgiving with. That way the kids cant make you feel bad for making them spend a certain holiday with you because they chose who they wanted to spend it with! This might be hard for parents to take, but giving the child control over the situation may allow them to enjoy the holidays just a little bit more.

You may have heard about the first Thanksgiving, but the holiday did not become a national one until many years later. Do you know when and how Thanksgiving became a national holiday? It really is an interesting story and because of it each and every year on the fourth Thursday in November we celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

The History

You are probably well aware of the first Thanksgiving and how the Pilgrims and the Indians go together and gave thanks for the bountiful harvest. That was in 1621. However, the first Thanksgiving did not lead to a traditional holiday and certainly not to a national one since the nation didnt exactly exist. It did play a role, however, in what would come. Eventually Thanksgiving began being celebrated more and more as the country grew and people wanted to give thanks. A real American Thanksgiving was first celebrated by the entire country just after the Revolutionary War. But still, it was not a national holiday.

Then, when Abraham Lincoln was in office he declared the last Thursday of November Thanksgiving Day in 1863. That is when it finally became a national holiday. Every president since Lincoln has also declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.

In 1941 Congress set the national holiday of Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of every November. This reversed a decision by President Roosevelt to celebrate Thanksgiving on the third Thursday of November to give people more time to shop for Christmas.

Today, we all look forward to Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season. We celebrate friends, family, and prosperity and thank God for His blessings. Many families have different takes and traditions for Thanksgiving, but the overall theme is a family meal and giving thanks for all of lifes blessings.

Now you know how Thanksgiving became a national holiday. Most people think after the Pilgrims first Thanksgiving they continued giving thanks in this fashion each and every year and the tradition spread and eventually became a national holiday. But, it didnt happen that way. It was many years after the first Thanksgiving that Lincoln declared a national holiday and then many years after that when it became permanently celebrated on the fourth Thursday of each November.

Did you know that the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade has been taking place for over 75 years? Its amazing to think so, but it is true. And, because of its history the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade has really become embedded in American culture for Thanksgiving.

Back in the 1920s there were many immigrants who worked at Macys Department Store. They were excited to be in America and wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving. However, they also wanted to incorporate some of the flair and excitement they were accustomed to from festivals and celebrations in Europe. So, the immigrants dressed up like clowns, knights, sheiks, and cowboys and paraded from 145th street to 34th street. There were also animals, bands, and floats that made up the parade. More than 250,000 people came out to see the parade and it was certainly a success!

So, the parade continued and each and every year the crowds grew and so did the parade. Huge balloons became part of the parade and were released for a lucky person to fid and claim a prize. This no longer takes place, but it was a fun part of the parade. Even during the Depression crowds reached close to one million people. However, early 1940 resulted in a cessation of the parade because of the war and the helium and rubber simply couldnt be used for fun when it was needed elsewhere. Plus, most folks werent in a celebratory mood during World War II.

In 1945 the parade returned and took the route that it still follows to the present day. IN addition, it was the first year the parade was actually televised! Now more people across the country could see the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade! By the 1950s the televised parade had really hooked America and become a Thanksgiving Day tradition. Also, celebrities started making appearances in the parade.

The Macys Thanksgiving Day parade really became part of New Yorks Thanksgiving Day and set the tune for the coming Christmas season. With the television more and more Americans across the nation began including Macys Thanksgiving Day parade as part of their Thanksgiving celebrations.

Do you know what happened at the first Thanksgiving? You might have a pretty good idea but the fact is that we just dont have too many historical accounts of how the day took place and all that happened. But, we do have some tidbits of information that allow us to piece the day together fairly well.

The year was 1621 and the Pilgrims were living in the New World. They had experienced some tough days and beginning a new life in a new land was difficult. Many individuals died and others were hungry and scared. However, the Pilgrims found a way to survive in the new land. Once they had established themselves, made friends with the Indians, and had a successful harvest they decided it was time to give thanks for all of Gods blessings. But, it is believed now that the Pilgrims didnt approach Thanksgiving so much as a religious holiday but more of a festive one that was based around Englands Fall Harvest.

Regardless of whether it was religious or not the pilgrims took a day off to enjoy their plentiful harvest, to relax, have fun, and share some of their success with the Indians. Keep in mind the adjustment the Pilgrims had to make to the new land, weather, and lifestyle in the colony was not easy. So, by the time a successful harvest had been achieved and some tough days lived through the pilgrims were ready to rejoice.

They cooked venison and fowl and probably even eel, lobster, cod, or other types of seafood that would have been available. It is unlikely the Pilgrims actually ate a turkey on that first Thanksgiving. Sweet potatoes and pumpkins more than likely made an appearance in different dishes although corn and mashed potatoes probably did not. The Indian corn was almost always dry by that time of year and potatoes didnt grow in that area. Cranberries are thought to have held a place in some dishes, but probably not like in the sauce we are accustomed to buying in a can! Other vegetables and fruits surely were served. Of al the accounts of Thanksgiving historians have read the only two definitive foods served were fowl and venison.

The day was also enjoyed by playing sports, talking with friends, and simply giving thanks for the bountiful harvest. The Indians also took part in this day with the Pilgrims and may have helped with some of the preparations or even helped kill some of the meat for dinner. The one thing that is known is the first ever Thanksgiving was a day of happiness and rejoicing for the Pilgrims.

The traditional Thanksgiving dishes really differ among families and even more so among regions of the United States. For example, there are families who bake a turkey and other families who fry one. There are some parts of the country that cant have Thanksgiving without sweet tea and other parts of the country that dont even drink the stuff! But, the following overview of traditional Thanksgiving dishes are ones that are popular pretty much across the board with a couple of specifications for different parts of the US. Remember, just because a food isnt listed here doesnt mean its not a traditional Thanksgiving food. And just because it is listed doesnt meant that it is a tradition in your family!

Turkey
The most traditional food of all is the Thanksgiving turkey. There are myriad ways to cook it and season it, but almost all Americans consider turkey a mainstay for the Thanksgiving meal.

Ham
Although not as popular as turkey, many families serve a pink ham on Thanksgiving Day. This is usually served in addition to the turkey and not in place of. Some families like to have two different meats to choose from and really like the leftover sandwiches!

Stuffing/dressing
You cant cook a turkey without cooking stuffing or dressing! There are lots of different boxed and ready made stuffings and dressings you can purchase or you can make your own. When it comes to cooking your own there are so many family recipes that although it is all called stuffing and dressing it has so many different flavors that it might not seem like the same thing!

Yams
Sweet potatoes, also called yams, are another traditional Thanksgiving Day food. Some families cook the yams in syrup, others make a souffl or casserole with marshmallows on top, and still others serve baked sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar.

Cranberry Sauce
It is believed the Pilgrims had some form of cranberry sauce during the first Thanksgiving. And, the tradition continues today with cranberry sauces, chutneys, and more.

Mashed Potatoes
For many families, mashed potatoes are as much a part of Thanksgiving as the turkey!

Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is present at most Thanksgiving meals across the country. Some families may serve corn of the cob as well, but the point is that corn makes it onto the list of traditional Thanksgiving foods.

Vegetables
When it comes to vegetables and Thanksgiving there are many differences. Some parts of the country serve butterbeans, turnips, squash, collards, peas, and green beans while other parts of the country serve a green bean casserole, some kind of salad, or other vegetables.

Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie
As far as Thanksgiving dessert is considered pumpkin pie and pecan pie are two of the most popular desserts across the country. There are other desserts that are also popular like mince pies, pound cakes, apple pies, and more.

These are just a few of the most popular Thanksgiving traditional dishes across the United States. There is one thing for sure, though, and that is that each region of the country and even more so each family has their own traditions and favorite Thanksgiving foods.

The kids are out of school for Thanksgiving vacation and you want to keep them busy while also letting them help with the holiday decorations. However, you just arent sure what to have them do! Fortunately, there are literally hundreds of Thanksgiving arts and crafts ideas for kids and a few are discussed here. Of course, if you need more or are looking for something different then browsing the Internet will certainly help you find lots more! Just be creative, have fun, and these arts and crafts will really turn out well and make your Thanksgiving holiday just a little more festive!

Place cards and Napkin Rings
The entire family is coming over for dinner and you want everyone to have an assigned seat. So, instead of taking your precious time from cooking and cleaning have the kids make place cards and napkin rings! The special touch from the kids will really be appreciated by the other guests and it will save you lots of time not to mention keep your kids occupied!

Buy some place cards that are pre-folded from any craft or dollar store. Then, give your kids glitter, markers, crayons, beads, mini leaves, or anything you have in mind to decorate the place cards. If your kids can write then give them a list of names and let them write the names. If not, write the names yourself and then allow the kids to decorate. The result will be truly original place cards that everyone can enjoy!

The same goes for napkin rings. You can cut the regular printer paper into long strips for easy decorating and folding. Or, you can find pre-decorated napkin rings on the Internet that your kids can decorate more or else tape together to form the napkin rings.

Hand Turkeys
A time honored Thanksgiving kids project is the hand turkey! Simply buy some paper plates, hand out the markers or crayons, and let your kids trace their hands on the plate. Then, the shape of the hand can be used as the shape of the turkey and decorated accordingly.

Fall Leaves
Generally around Thanksgiving the leaves have started changing colors and falling to the ground. So, have your kids go outside and pick 10 of the most beautiful leaves they can find. You can choose more or less, but just make sure your kid is looking for the prettiest leaves. This will take up time and keep them occupied. Once they come back in take out the wax paper and turn the iron on. Place the leaves under the wax paper and iron. The result will be perfectly sealed fall leaves. Another twist on this activity is to make the wax paper as big as a placemat and then let your kids artwork become the placemats on the table. You cant find anything prettier and the wax paper will keep any spills from staining your table cloth!

Cornucopia
Yet another idea is to buy lots of fruits, mini pumpkins, squash, and have the kids collect leaves and twigs. Then, allow them to arrange all of these products in a cornucopia. If you dont have the perfect shaped basket then any basket will do. Your kids will love taking part in the decorations and will have a lot of fun, too!

Many of us celebrate Thanksgiving and just assume since we do that everyone else does as well. The answer to whether Thanksgiving is celebrated nationally or not is that it is. Most families celebrate Thanksgiving each and every year and individuals from all over the country make plans to eat turkey and give thanks.

Thanksgiving is a nationally recognized holiday. Kids dont go to school, most businesses arent open, and politics are briefly put on hold. The most important Thanksgiving activities include eating, watching sports, and spending time with family and friends. No matter where you are in the nation you will find that most people celebrate Thanksgiving pretty much the same. Some families will celebrate at lunchtime and others at dinner and still others may go out to dinner or not celebrate at all. But, for the most part, celebrating Thanksgiving is an American tradition and one that all Americans enjoy taking part in.

Parades Around the Country

Even if you cant travel the entire country to see how Thanksgiving is celebrated you can get a pretty good idea. There are Thanksgiving Day parades all over the country and many of them are televised. One of the most popular and well known parades is the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. This parade has been around for decades and continues to be a hit with New Yorkers as well as individuals around the country who make watching the parade on television part of their celebration.

You may choose to attend a parade on Thanksgiving day in your town or perhaps you will choose to watch one on TV. Regardless, parades around the country really make up part of the Thanksgiving culture we have all become so accustomed to. In fact, when you turn the television on Thanksgiving Day you will more than likely see a parade or a football game! Thats just part of Thanksgiving Day culture in our country.

Other Countries

The fourth Thursday in November is the day when the United States celebrates Thanksgiving. This means that only the United States is celebrating that particular day. There are many other countries that also have a day of Thanksgiving, but they celebrate on different dates. So, while Thanksgiving is a national holiday it is not necessarily and international one.

The next time someone asks you about Thanksgiving and where it is celebrated you will know all the right answers. Plus, it helps to have this information on hand when your child asks you about Thanksgiving Day and who celebrates it when!

If you want to throw the best Thanksgiving party ever then you need to come up with the right ingredients. These may differ for different family and friends, but some of the basic elements will remain the same. The following tips should have you well on your way to planning the best Thanksgiving party ever.

Food
If you really want to have the best Thanksgiving party ever then you need to have lots of food! Most people plan on stuffing themselves just as much as the holiday bird so cook extra. You will need to have plenty of turkey, ham, sides, bread, and more desserts than you think are enough! Remember to always cook enough that if some unexpected guests show up you still have plenty. Eating leftovers for the next several days is part of Thanksgiving tradition anyway so having extra wont hurt any!

Keep in mind you want to serve the traditional Thanksgiving foods, but there is nothing wrong with mixing it up a bit and adding some cultural foods or some of your favorites that arent traditional. Who knows, they might just become tradition over time!

Spirits
To really loosen folks up consider having some wine, liquor, or beer on hand. In fact, you could even plan on just wine, just mixed drinks, beer, or a mixture of the above. If you dont want to go to too much trouble then choose a drink that complements the meal and stock up on that particular one. As long as your guests can have a drink or two they will relax and really enjoy the party. Just be careful because you dont want to let your guests get drunk before the meal. Then they might not have room to eat or else cause a scene. So, serve drinks just a bit before dinner or offer them afterwards. Its your party so you have control!

Sports
Unless you are only inviting sports loathing individuals to your Thanksgiving party you need to make sure you have a comfortable and spacious area where guests can see the football games going on. Watching sports on Thanksgiving Day is frequently what many individuals look forward to the most, so you dont want to deprive anyone of that. You can even include sports watching in the party atmosphere or try and schedule your party so it doesnt interfere with an important game.

Company
And finally, the best Thanksgiving parties of all are due to the company present. Do your best to invite just enough people but not too many so that the atmosphere is comfortable and enjoyable. Also, avoid inviting people who dont get along well with others or you for that matter. While Thanksgiving is traditionally a family holiday you actually want to enjoy the day so be careful about who you invite.