Astrology, horoscope astrology, horoscopes, astrology readings from Manyzone
Home Astrology Astro Store Astro Services Astrologers Career Numerology Tarot Palmistry Vaastu Reiki Poojas View Cart
Home » Festivals » Thanks Giving Day
  Hi guest!  Login | Register
Hindu Festivals
Baisakhi
Diwali
Durga Puja
Dussehra
Ganesh Chaturthi
Holi
Holi Home
Janmashtami
Karwa Chauth
Mahashivaratri
Mahashivratri Home
Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti Home
Naga Panchami
Navratri
Onam
Pongal
Pongal Home
Raksha Bandhan
Ramnavami
Vasant Panchami
National Festivals
Children's Day
Children's Day Home
Gandhi Jayanti
Independence Day
Republic Day
Republic Day Home
Teacher's Day
Teacher's Day Home
Sikh Festivals
Guru Nanak Jayanti
Guru Nanak Jayanti Home
Guru Purab
Holla Mohalla
Lohri
Lohri Home
Christian Festivals
Christmas
Christmas Home
Easter
Good Friday
Buddhist Festivals
Buddha Purnima
Hemis Gompa
Losar
Ullambana
Muslim Festivals
Bakra Eid
Bakra Eid Home
Eid-Ul-Fitr
Muharram
Muharram Home
General Festivals
Father's Day
Halloween
Mother's Day
New Year
New Year Home
Thanksgiving Day
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day Home
Chinese New Year
Zoroastrian Festivals
Gahambars
Jamshed Navroz
Khordad Sal
Zarthost No Deeso
Jewish Festivals
Hanukkah
Hanukkah Home
Thanks Giving Day

Thanksgiving Day is a festival celebrated with lot of enthusiasm in US, Canada and several other countries. This is the time to offer thanks, family gatherings and holiday meals. Thanksgiving Day Festival commemorates the feast held by the Pilgrim colonists and members of the Wampanoag people at Plymouth in 1621. On this day people express gratitude to God for his blessings and give thanks to dear ones for their love & support. Feasting with family is an integral & most delightful part of Thanksgiving Day celebrations. A time of turkeys, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. A time for Indian corn, holiday parades and giant balloons . Thanksgiving day is celerated every year on the 4th Thursday of the month of November. Its orgin can be traced back to the 16th century when the first thanksgiving dinner is said to have taken place.

The legendary pilgrims, crossed the Atlantic in the year 1620 in Mayflower-A 17th Century sailing vessel. About 102 people traveled for nearly two months with extreme difficulty. This was so because they were kept in the cargo space of the sailing vessel. No one was allowed to go on the deck due to terrible storms. The pilgrims comforted themselves by singing Psalms- a sacred song. The pilgrims reached Plymouth rock on December 11th 1620, after a sea journey of 66 days. Though the original destination was somewhere in the northern part of Virginia, they could not reach the place owing to winds blowing them off course. Nearly46 pilgrims died due to extreme cold in winter. However, in the spring of 1621, Squanto, a native Indian taught the pilgrims to survive by growing food.

In the summer of 1621, owing to severe drought, pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer to please God and ask for a bountiful harvest in the coming season. God answered their prayers and it rained at the end of the day. It saved the corn crops.

More About Thanks Giving Day

It is said that Pilgrims learnt to grow corn, beans and pumpkins from the Indians, which helped all of them survive . In the autumn of 1621, they held a grand celebration where 90 people were invited including Indians. The grand feast was organized to thank god for his favors. This communal dinner is popularly known as “The first thanksgiving feast”. There is however, no evidence to prove if the dinner actually took place. While some historians believe pilgrims were quite religious so, their thanksgiving would've included a day of fasting and praying, others say that the Thanksgiving dinner did take place.

There is no evidence to prove if the customary turkey was a part of the initial feast. According to the first hand account written by the leader of the colony, the food included, ducks, geese, venison, fish, berries etc.

Pumpkin pie, a modern staple adorning every dinner table, is unlikely to have been a part of the first thanksgiving feast. Pilgrims however, did have boiled pumpkin. Diminishing supply of flour led to the absence of any kind of bread.

The feast continued for three days and was eaten outside due to lack of space. It was not repeated till 1623, which again witnessed a severe drought. Governor Bradford proclaimed another day of thanksgiving in the year 1676. October of 1777 witnessed a time when all the 13 colonies joined in a communal celebration. It also marked the victory over the British.

After a number of events and changes, President Lincoln proclaimed last Thursday in November of thanksgiving in the year 1863. This was due to the continuous efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor. She wrote a number of articles for the cause.

Indian Festivals Calender 2007
Indian Festivals Calender 2008

Home | Baby Names | About Us | Advertise | Associate Program | Resources | Terms | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Customer Care | Contact us
Zones: Baby Names | Festivals | Resources
All trademarks, logos and names are properties of their respective owners. Copyright 2005-2006 © Manyzone Solutions