Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, translates to “Ngày lễ Tạ Ơn” in Vietnamese. This is a national holiday primarily celebrated in the United States and Canada.
Important Facts About Thanksgiving
What is Thanksgiving Day?
This day celebrates the harvest and gives thanks to God for a bountiful and peaceful life. It is also an official holiday for all workers as mandated by law in the United States and Canada. This day is often humorously referred to as the day when turkeys meet their end, as turkey is an essential dish during Thanksgiving celebrations.
History of Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving meals always include turkey.
Thanksgiving has been an annual holiday in the United States since 1863. The first Thanksgiving is believed to have occurred in 1623 to give thanks for rain that ended a drought. George Washington, the first President of the United States, declared Thanksgiving as an official holiday in 1789.
This day is a traditional occasion for family and friends to gather for a special meal. This special meal typically includes turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and vegetables. Thanksgiving is a time for many to express gratitude for what they have, and it is also a time for travel or visiting family and friends.
Significance of Thanksgiving
Initially, the Thanksgiving feast was held to thank God, who provided peace and prosperity to the people. By the mid-19th century, as the Civil War in the United States intensified, Thanksgiving was celebrated as a means to promote unity among citizens.
Today, Thanksgiving is viewed as a day for family members to reunite after a year of study and work. During the candlelit Thanksgiving table, family members hold hands, close their eyes, and silently thank God for a blessed year gone by and pray for a peaceful and fortunate year ahead.
When is Thanksgiving celebrated?
Thanksgiving does not have a fixed date. It is calculated as follows: Thanksgiving in the United States is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Specifically, Thanksgiving in 2024 will occur on November 28, 2024.
Note that Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday of October. This means that Canadian Thanksgiving will be on October 14, 2024. This holiday is also observed in other places like the Netherlands, Grenada, Liberia, and the United Kingdom.
Thanksgiving in the US and Canada over the years.
Traditional Activities on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is typically celebrated with an evening feast with family and friends featuring turkey. In Canada and the United States, it is an important day for family reunions, and people often travel long distances to be with their families. In the United States, people usually have a four-day weekend for this holiday: they have off from work or school on Thursday and Friday of that week.
Thanksgiving is often celebrated at home, unlike Independence Day or Christmas, which involve many public events (like fireworks or parades). In Canada, it is a three-day weekend, and people can have their feast on any day during that long weekend. This often leads to having a feast with one group of people on one day, and then another group the next day.
While the Friday after Thanksgiving (also known as Black Friday) is the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States, many stores start welcoming customers with holiday items right after Halloween.
American football is often a significant part of Thanksgiving in both the United States and Canada. Professional teams usually compete on this day for viewers to watch on television. Additionally, many high school or college teams also compete during that weekend, often against long-standing rivals.
