Ten Thanksgiving Day Facts

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  Do not eat  too much, spend too much time with family or spend too much on Black Friday!  I really hope you do not spend too much!  We will spend Thanksgiving with family and friends.  My house is filled with the East Coast relatives, our children and even a Guest dog. Our children came to visit and we all join friends to celebrate Thanksgiving together. How was yours?

Here are just a few Thanksgiving Day facts:

• Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.
• Seven (7) other countries celebrate Thanksgiving.
• Although the first Thanksgiving occurred in 1621, it did not become a national holiday until 1941.
• Friday after Thanksgiving is called “Black Friday” which used to kick off holiday shopping season.
• Turkey is the traditional (91% of Americans) food of Thanksgiving.
• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1924.
• Thanksgiving Day is the busiest travel day of the year.
• No turkey was actually served on the first Thanksgiving!
• The tradition of watching football on Thanksgiving started in 1920.
• Thanksgiving is considered the biggest (more than New Year’s Eve & St. Patrick’s Day) drinking (alcohol) night of the year.

This year some retailers are starting the shopping season before Thanksgiving Day!  Before long, retailers will push for shopping for the holidays year round! Wait a minute, they are constantly barraging us on TV, online and through the mail to spend, spend, spend all the time. It is also a day filled with college and professional sports.  There is always a football game or two and a basketball game to watch.  There is the usual Thanksgiving Day parade on television and many communities put on smaller festivities and/or a parade.  For me, it is a wonderful time to celebrate with friends and family.  This year we celebrate with family and friends.

As I get old(er), I look forward to the traditions and the opportunities to celebrate the holidays together.  The food is pretty good too.  There is something about putting a bunch of people together around a dining room table with food, drink and talk.  Subjects range from sports to politics and remembrances that seem to entertain and amuse us all.  It is also a time to be grateful or thankful for what we have.  Great, caring, wonderful children and good friends getting together on this holiday.  I guess I am describing your typical family holiday dinners in general!  At least I hope so.  Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Photo by:  Flickr