Thanksgiving, celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada, is a tremendously popular holiday recognized as a time for close ones to gather and express their gratitude for meaningful things in their lives. Thanksgiving can be celebrated in countless personal and traditional ways, but before diving into those, let’s take a moment to explore the origins of this cherished holiday.
Despite its popularity, many may not know the history behind Thanksgiving. Let’s go back to mid-September 1620 in Plymouth, England. Imagine yourself as a Christian, discontent with the Church of England for holding onto too many practices of the Roman Church – the previous religious head of the nation. You, a Separatist – later known as a Pilgrim – desire the establishment of a completely different church congregation. You want this congregation to be centered around the open-mindedness and autonomy you care for, rather than the outdated values of the Roman Church. As your desire, at the time, is labeled illegal, you decide to flee to a land where you can freely practice your religion, under your beliefs, with a group of 102 other Separatists. You find yourself in Holland, but are not fully satisfied with the lifestyle there and decide to relocate once more. Finally, on November 11, 1620, you arrive at what is today known as Cape Cod. In Massachusetts, you established the Plymouth Colony, often deemed the New World. Now, fast-forwarding a year later to 1621, your first year in the New World has been taxing. You decide to celebrate your first successful harvest as well as your first year of survival in a new land by holding a three-day festive prayer.
Today, to honor these Pilgrims, on the fourth Thursday of November, each year, people gather to cook and eat meals consisting of ingredients typically native to the Americas. As winter approaches earlier in Canada, Thanksgiving there is celebrated in advance.
People celebrate this holiday in a multitude of different ways, some more renowned than others. There have been many developments regarding ways of celebrating Thanksgiving in 2023 and in years prior. I think that the following traditions will carry on in their spike in popularity in 2024. The concept of Friendsgiving, a celebration where friends come together to share a meal before or after the official holiday, has gained tremendous popularity, largely thanks to social media. It has become particularly beloved among younger generations. With social media’s undeniable presence among youth, I predict that Friendsgiving will surely be a crowd-pleaser once again this fall. Adding on to this, it is likely that pumpkin flavors and the theme of fall will be especially featured in Friendsgiving dishes this year. I know I am planning on celebrating Friendsgiving!
The tradition of running a “Turkey Trot” has also noticeably emerged. A Turkey Trot is a race of any distance (ranging from 5 kilometers to half marathons) that people run on the day of the holiday. It is praised for its community bonding aspect, as well as its encouragement for physical activity on one of the greatest food-centered holidays in the U.S. and in Canada.
Finally, “Black Friday” – the Friday following Thanksgiving, in which companies encourage shopping by offering deals and sales – has undergone extreme commercial expansion. In 2023, Black Friday was the most popular day for in-store shopping in the U.S. Will this trend continue? I think so!
You may now be wondering: what about the more traditional ways of spending Thanksgiving? Well, I anticipate that there will be room for those as well. People will carry on hosting dinner parties centered around an immense turkey, accompanied by all of your favorite side dishes. Furthermore, the traditions of watching an American Football game, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, participating in a pie-making contest, volunteering for a good cause, and giving thanks will continue in their successful tendencies. Thanksgiving 2024 will definitely be an opportunity for people to come together to join old and new traditions alike. So, what are your plans for Thanksgiving?
