Thanksgiving is a holiday centered around gratitude, togetherness, and sharing a meal with loved ones. While traditions vary, the core meaning includes:
1. Giving Thanks
People reflect on what they’re grateful for—family, friends, health, opportunities, or simple everyday blessings.
2. Gathering with Loved Ones
Families and friends come together, often traveling long distances, to share time and enjoy each other’s company.
3. Sharing a Special Meal
In the U.S. and Canada, this typically includes foods like turkey, stuffing, and pie, but the exact dishes depend on culture and family traditions.
4. Historical Roots
In the U.S., Thanksgiving is connected to a 17th-century harvest meal shared (imperfectly and amid conflict) between English Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people. Today, many also acknowledge the experiences of Indigenous communities and the complex history around the holiday.
In short
It’s about gratitude, community, reflection, and sharing.
Dear Pilgrim
Have a local perspective to share? Send us your thoughts for the Pilgrim Letters.
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