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 | Yorkshire Times A Voice of the Free Press |
Jan Harris
Deputy Group Editor
8:19 AM 28th November 2024
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Happy Thanksgiving To Our American Neighbours
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
In 2024 this is on Thursday 28 November followed by Black Friday on Friday 29 November and Cyber Monday on 2 December.
It is a day when Americans give thanks for the survival of the early colonists who settled in New England after their first harvest in Plymouth in November 1621, which is now in Massachusetts.
Image by Print On Demand from Pixabay
It is a time when families and friends get together for a meal, which traditionally is celebrated with roast turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy and pumpkin pie. Very much like we in the UK celebrate Christmas but without the pumpkin pie. Lots of towns and cities have parades during the Thanksgiving weekend which mark the opening of the Christmas shopping season.
In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October, which in 2024 was 14 October.
Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay
Mainly associated with the US Thanksgiving is celebrated in a few other countries.
China - Mid-Autumn Festival
Also known as Moon Festival is usually celebrated in late September or early October (15th day of the 8th lunar month)
UK - Harvest Festival
This is usually celebrated in September or October on the Sunday nearest to the Harvest Moon.
South India - Pongal
Celebrated in mid-January by the Tamil people. It is a four-day festival marking the end of winter and the journey of the sun which is associated with renewal and prosperity and a time of light.
Ghana - Homowo
This is a joyful festival which starts in May and lasts for a few months. It reflects the Ga people's triumph over hardship.
This is the day following Thanksgiving in the US. It is a public holiday and is associated with the start of the US Christmas shopping season followed by Cyber Monday.
Why Not Go Green On Black Friday?