The fourth Thursday of November is the national holiday or, Thanksgiving.  During this holiday, people celebrate by eating lots of food and giving thanks for the things they’re grateful for.

This all started in 1623, when the Pilgrims and Puritans came from England to America and planned a feast with the Indians.  George Washington, the first president of the United States, proclaimed the first nation-wide Thanksgiving in America on November 16, 1789 to give thanks and prayers to acknowledge the grateful hearts.  However, the date was changed in the 19th century to the fourth Thursday of November.  Abraham Lincoln declared two national Thanksgiving days in 1863, one in August to commemorate the Battle of Gettysburg, and one in November.

The Feast Consisted of:
Turkey,
stuffing,
gravy,
biscuits,
corn bread,
corn pudding,
cranberry sauce,
creamed onions,
green-bean casserole,
mashed potatoes,
sweet potato pie,
apple pie,
chocolate pie,
pecan pie,
pumpkin pie,
apple cider,
and coffee.

The English and Indian men, woman, and children ate, sang, and danced.  Their meal consisted of deer, corn, shellfish, and roasted meat.  Much of what modern people would eat was not available in 1621.  However, they still ate and played games like normal people would at a family gathering.  The history of Thanksgiving has changed over the years but it’s still celebrated throughout the world.