Thanksgiving

Isabelle Pearce

What is your favorite part about Thanksgiving? Is it gathering with family? Food? The “start” of Christmas? Or the events that take place like Black Friday and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Whatever it is, it is coming up soon! As many people know, in 1621 Plymouth colonists and Indians came together to share a feast, and this became a national holiday called Thanksgiving. This is a time to come together to spend time with family, enjoy a big meal, and express what you are thankful for in your life. Kaitlyn Swain explains, “My favorite part about Thanksgiving is going over to my grandmas house.” Thanksgiving is the start of a very busy time of the year when Americans spend a lot of money on gifts and food, and traveling is very popular. Many people have the same traditions, activities, and eat common foods.

About 23.7 million Americans watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade on their TV throughout the holiday, and about 3.5 million watch it live on the road. This takes place in New York City on Thanksgiving morning, and it is one of the oldest parades. There are many floats, groups, and celebrity performers that attend this three hour famous event. This parade requires around 210,000 people to put on the show. On top of that, 174 million Americans go Black Friday shopping, whether it is online or in-store over Thanksgiving weekend. On Black Friday, many stores have very cheap prices. Stores stay open late and open early, and some people even camp out to ensure they will get their hands on a popular product. If you have ever went shopping on Black Friday, you know how crazy the lines can get! This is a great time to buy cheap Christmas gifts! The most popular stores in the US on Black Friday include Target, Walmart, Amazon, JC Penny’s, Kohl’s, Best Buy, and of course, Macy’s.

Many families eat the same foods during this time. 46 million turkeys are eaten every Thanksgiving, along with 22 million on Christmas. These common foods include:

  1. Turkey
  2. Mashed potatoes
  3. Green beans
  4. Gravy
  5. Stuffing
  6. Cranberry sauce
  7. Pie
  8. Ham
  9. Baked Mac and Cheese
  10. Rolls

Many people say after Thanksgiving is over, it is officially the start of Christmas. Families start to hang lights outside of their houses, decorate their homes, and put up their Christmas trees.

Thanksgiving is all about showing what you are thankful for. Adam Williams, age seven says, “I am thankful for my friends at school and my family too.” During this time of the year, make sure to show your thankfulness to family, friends, and everyday small blessings!