Thursday, November 23, 2023: Most skip this holiday entirely and move straight onto Christmas, but this date is one to remember. But most don’t know the backstory of this holiday, nor do some care about the things going on for Thanksgiving! In this article, I’ll be talking about the facts, the food, and all the events and sales going on!
Facts:
The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over a three-day harvest festival. A harvest feast was shared between the Wampanoag people and the English colonists known as Pilgrims. But Thanksgiving was not a real holiday till 1863. It’s important to know that for many Native Americans.
Thanksgiving is a day of mourning and protest since it commemorates the arrival of settlers in North America and the centuries of oppression and genocide that followed. The Pequot Massacre of 1636 and the beheading of the Wampanoag leader, Metacom, in 1676. Now, most people celebrate it as a time for families to reunite, express gratitude for one another, and feel closer to one another than at any other time.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade:
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade presented by store chain Macy’s in New York City. The parade first took place in 1924. It’ll take place on Thursday, November 23, 2023. You can catch it on NBC or Peacock. Their lineup consists of twenty-five different character balloons, thirty floats, seventeen big-name music artists such as Cher, Enhypen, and En Vogue, six balloonists, a clown crew, a marching band, and five top groups of performers. They also have a super cute arts and crafts station with making a traditional turkey, superhero capes, and more!
Also, if you’re looking for a gift for a loved one, they have a new line of clothes, toys, and plushies designed based on the parade and the things inside the parade! Don’t forget to watch out for the famous Santa Claus! Every year, at the end of the parade, he makes his guest appearance!
Food and Treats:
Thanksgiving is the best holiday to eat your weight in food! Here’s a list of the top 10 best and most favorite foods on Thanksgiving. Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Sweet Potatoes, Dinner Rolls, Cranberry Sauce, Pumpkin Pie, Stuffing. Though I bet you saw most of these coming! These foods are what make Thanksgiving so recognizable. Here are some recipes that might be helpful!
Check out the links to find all the best recipes :
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/expertly-spiced-and-glazed-roast-turkey
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/best-mashed-potatoes
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/bas-best-green-bean-casserole
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/bas-best-buttermilk-biscuits
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/best-pumpkin-pie
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/dry-rubbed-roast-turkey
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/roasted-sweet-potatoes
Black Friday:
November 24, 2023, is this year’s date for black Friday with the prices dropping around 37%. We can all agree that sales are amazing! But some people take it too far.
People make impulsive and unnecessary purchases just because it’s “on sale.” Not only that, but people line up for hours in the cold.
People rush through the doors and trample over one another, trying to get a TV they don’t need. Also, there have been reports of people being violent towards each other, pushing, shoving, and hitting. Not to mention some even being arrested! Fun fact: The first time black Friday was referred to as shopping after Thanksgiving was in the 1950s.
Cyber Monday:
November 27, 2023. Cyber Monday takes place only a few days after Black Friday, with some asking if it is worth waiting for. Articles such as dealnews.com state that it can have better quality deals than black Friday! And you might pass up better deals along the way, especially if you focus on the best products to shop for that day. In 2022, about 30% of the deals we listed on Cyber Monday were Staff Pick-worthy, or “best of the best” offers. However, what does Cyber Monday mean? “The term was coined in 2005 to describe the Monday after Black Friday when people continued to shop online after going back to work. Cyber Monday is by far the biggest online shopping day of the year, representing a massive sales opportunity” oberlo.com says.
Deals and sales:
Not only is black Friday a good day to get big deals, but it is just Thanksgiving weekend in general! Many electronics are on sale this time of year! TV prices are as low as $300! Plus, most places are having a 25% off sale! Macy’s is having a huge Thanksgiving sale, and almost everything is 25%, 50% off! Not to mention, if you want to decorate early, holiday items are 60% off! If you like saving money, I suggest this is the time of year to get ready early for Christmas or to just buy things in general!
All things considered, Thanksgiving is a holiday that has people with mixed feelings. The background history of the holiday is tragic and sad for many people, but others love it and celebrate it with huge events and families gathered around feasting and shopping with sales in mind. Most people still believe that we celebrate Thanksgiving by celebrating the 1621 harvest, and they don’t know the real story behind it all. But you should still celebrate it; it should be a time for families to come together and celebrate being thankful for each other.
