Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving in the United States is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. People of all faiths celebrate this day. They give thanks for the many good things in their lives. Thanksgiving Day has been an official United States holiday since 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln, proclaimed that Thursday, 26 November, should be a day of national gratitude. Before that this holiday was celebrated only by English settlers of the Plymouth colony, who had to endure a rough first winter in New England.

It is one of the busiest periods for travelling in the USA. Most government offices, businesses, schools and other organizations are closed. People usually have a four-day weekend. That`is why on that day families always come together because it`s a traditional family holiday. At the begining of this evening they give thanks for their blessings, including the joy of being united for the occasion. Then they have wonerful dinner.  It`s always a large roasted turkey with stuffing. This bird is the main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, that's why it is sometimes called "Turkey Day". They usually serve it with sweet or mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin or apple pie.

For those who don`t like sitting at home and eating, there are lots of other events to celebrate Thanksgiving. You probably heard about the Macy's parade in New York City - one more Thanksgiving tradition - an annual pageant of floats, cheerleaders, marching bands and gigantic balloons. The parade dates back to the 1920s when many of the immigrant workers at Macy's department store were keen to celebrate the American holiday. Nowadays it`s one of the biggest in the world!

Thanksgiving holiday kicks off  Christmas season.