Thanksgiving Day
November harvest celebration
Thanksgiving Day is an American holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, centered on a large meal shared with family and friends.
Turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie are traditional.
The holiday commemorates an early colonial harvest feast and has become associated with gratitude, football, and the start of the Christmas shopping season.
Canada observes its own Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October.
Plymouth's founding English colonists
- Mayflower1620 colonial transport vessel
- PlymouthEnglish port city
- WampanoagAlgonquian-speaking northeastern tribe
- SquantoPatuxet who helped Pilgrims
colonists · Native Americans · Massachusetts · settlement · Mayflower Compact · William Bradford · Plymouth Rock · colonial
Wattled North American fowl
- stuffingSeasoned mixture for cavities
- cranberry sauceSweet-tart fruit condiment
- pumpkin pieSpiced squash custard pastry
- mashed potatoesPulverized cooked tubers
gravy · green bean casserole · sweet potatoes · yams · cornbread · pecan pie · ham · rolls
Post-summer cooling period
- bountyReward for capture
- cornucopiaAbundance symbol, horn-shaped
- cropsCultivated plants for harvest
- farmersLand-cultivating occupation holders
gourds · pumpkins · corn · squash · apples · fertile · fields · gathering
Eleventh month
- ThursdayFifth weekday
- long weekendExtended time off
- federal holidayCongressionally recognized day off
- national holidayOfficial day of observance
Black Friday · travel · vacation · day off · football · Macy's parade · autumn · celebration
Gathering after separation
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- relativesThose connected by blood
- homecomingReturning to one's origin
- generationsPeople born around same time
grandparents · cousins · siblings · in-laws · household · togetherness · traditions · dinner table
Favors from the divine
- appreciationRecognition of worth
- gratefulnessState of being thankful
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- reflectionReturned light or thought
counting blessings · grace · abundance · mindfulness · contentment
Pilgrims
Plymouth's founding English colonists
- Mayflower1620 colonial transport vessel
- PlymouthEnglish port city
- WampanoagAlgonquian-speaking northeastern tribe
Squanto · colonists · Native Americans · Massachusetts · settlement · Mayflower Compact · William Bradford · Plymouth Rock · colonial · Abraham Lincoln
turkey
Wattled North American fowl
- stuffingSeasoned mixture for cavities
- cranberry sauceSweet-tart fruit condiment
- pumpkin pieSpiced squash custard pastry
mashed potatoes · gravy · green bean casserole · sweet potatoes · yams · cornbread · pecan pie · ham · rolls · biscuits
autumn
Post-summer cooling period
- bountyReward for capture
- cornucopiaAbundance symbol, horn-shaped
- cropsCultivated plants for harvest
farmers · gourds · pumpkins · corn · squash · apples · fertile · fields · gathering · reaping
November
Eleventh month
- ThursdayFifth weekday
- long weekendExtended time off
- federal holidayCongressionally recognized day off
national holiday · Black Friday · travel · vacation · day off · football · Macy's parade · autumn · celebration · observance
reunion
Gathering after separation
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- relativesThose connected by blood
- homecomingReturning to one's origin
generations · grandparents · cousins · siblings · in-laws · household · togetherness · traditions · dinner table · hosting
blessings
Favors from the divine
- appreciationRecognition of worth
- gratefulnessState of being thankful
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
reflection · counting blessings · grace · abundance · mindfulness · contentment
- holidaysChristmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine's Day, New Year's Day
- Plymouth ColonyPlymouth Colony, Pilgrims, Mayflower, Mayflower Compact, 1620
- Grenadanutmeg, mace, St. Andrew's, St. John's, St. Mark's
Thanksgiving Dayingratitude
Lack of appreciation
Indigenous Peoples' Day · complaint · grievance · Day of Atonement · day of reckoning
Thanksgiving Dayfuneral
Service honoring the dead
Good Friday · Yom Kippur · Day of the Dead · wake · memorial service
thanks, giving, thankful, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, thanklessly