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102 Thanksgiving Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting on all the things we are grateful for in our lives. It is also a time for gathering with loved ones and sharing a delicious meal together. If you are a student looking for inspiration for your Thanksgiving essay, look no further! Here are 102 Thanksgiving essay topic ideas and examples to get you started:

• The history of Thanksgiving and its significance
• How Thanksgiving is celebrated in different cultures and countries
• My favorite Thanksgiving tradition
• The importance of gratitude in my life
• An unforgettable Thanksgiving meal
• How I give back to my community during Thanksgiving
• The best Thanksgiving dessert recipe
• A memorable Thanksgiving with my family
• The role of family in Thanksgiving celebrations
• Reflecting on the meaning of Thanksgiving
• The impact of Thanksgiving on American culture
• A Thanksgiving memory that I will never forget
• The symbolism of the Thanksgiving turkey
• The importance of giving thanks every day, not just on Thanksgiving
• How Thanksgiving has evolved over the years
• The benefits of practicing gratitude in everyday life
• The role of food in Thanksgiving celebrations
• A Thanksgiving tradition that has been passed down in my family
• The history of the Thanksgiving parade
• How to celebrate Thanksgiving on a budget
• The origins of the Thanksgiving feast
• The role of Native Americans in the first Thanksgiving
• A Thanksgiving charity event that I participated in
• The significance of the Thanksgiving cornucopia
• The importance of family time during Thanksgiving
• A Thanksgiving meal that went wrong
• The symbolism of the Thanksgiving pumpkin pie
• The impact of Thanksgiving on mental health
• How to show gratitude to others on Thanksgiving
• The benefits of volunteering on Thanksgiving
• The importance of being present during Thanksgiving celebrations
• A Thanksgiving tradition that I started with my friends
• The role of gratitude journals in practicing thankfulness
• The history of the Thanksgiving football game
• How to create a thankful mindset on Thanksgiving
• The impact of Thanksgiving on relationships
• The origins of the Thanksgiving cranberry sauce
• A Thanksgiving feast from a different culture
• The symbolism of the Thanksgiving pilgrim hat
• The importance of expressing gratitude to loved ones on Thanksgiving
• The benefits of practicing mindfulness on Thanksgiving
• The role of thankfulness in personal growth
• A Thanksgiving meal that brought my family closer together
• The history of the Thanksgiving wishbone tradition
• How to create a gratitude jar for Thanksgiving
• The impact of Thanksgiving on physical health
• The origins of the Thanksgiving stuffing
• A Thanksgiving feast from a different time period
• The symbolism of the Thanksgiving cornbread
• The importance of giving back to those in need on Thanksgiving
• The benefits of practicing gratitude in the workplace
• The role of thankfulness in building resilience
• A Thanksgiving meal that taught me a valuable lesson
• The history of the Thanksgiving parade balloons
• How to create a gratitude tree for Thanksgiving
• The impact of Thanksgiving on emotional well-being
• The origins of the Thanksgiving green bean casserole
• A Thanksgiving feast from a different part of the world
• The symbolism of the Thanksgiving acorn squash
• The importance of expressing gratitude to oneself on Thanksgiving
• The benefits of practicing gratitude in education
• The role of thankfulness in building empathy
• A Thanksgiving meal that inspired me to give back
• The history of the Thanksgiving pie contest
• How to create a gratitude board for Thanksgiving
• The impact of Thanksgiving on social connections
• The origins of the Thanksgiving mashed potatoes
• A Thanksgiving feast from a different historical event
• The symbolism of the Thanksgiving sweet potatoes
• The importance of practicing self-care on Thanksgiving
• The benefits of expressing gratitude in relationships
• The role of thankfulness in building self-esteem
• A Thanksgiving meal that brought my community together
• The history of the Thanksgiving turkey pardon
• How to create a gratitude journal for Thanksgiving
• The impact of Thanksgiving on community engagement
• The origins of the Thanksgiving pumpkin soup
• A Thanksgiving feast from a different era
• The symbolism of the Thanksgiving cranberry relish
• The importance of giving thanks for nature on Thanksgiving
• The benefits of practicing gratitude in daily life
• The role of thankfulness in building trust
• A Thanksgiving meal that inspired me to volunteer
• The history of the Thanksgiving gratitude rock tradition
• How to create a gratitude scavenger hunt for Thanksgiving
• The impact of Thanksgiving on environmental awareness
• The origins of the Thanksgiving pecan pie
• A Thanksgiving feast from a different holiday
• The symbolism of the Thanksgiving pumpkin roll
• The importance of expressing gratitude for diversity on Thanksgiving
• The benefits of practicing gratitude in difficult times
• The role of thankfulness in building compassion
• A Thanksgiving meal that taught me about cultural appreciation
• The history of the Thanksgiving gratitude jar tradition
• How to create a gratitude wreath for Thanksgiving
• The impact of Thanksgiving on community building
• The origins of the Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole
• A Thanksgiving feast from a different tradition
• The symbolism of the Thanksgiving turkey gravy
• The importance of giving thanks for the little things on Thanksgiving
• The benefits of practicing gratitude in times of abundance
• The role of thankfulness in building a sense of belonging

These Thanksgiving essay topic ideas and examples are sure to inspire you to write a heartfelt and meaningful essay about the holiday. Whether you choose to reflect on the history of Thanksgiving, share a personal Thanksgiving memory, or explore the symbolism of Thanksgiving traditions, there are endless possibilities for you to explore in your essay. So grab a pen and paper, or open up your laptop, and start writing about all the things you are thankful for this Thanksgiving season. Happy writing!

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Writing A Thanksgiving Essay: Pro Tips And Tricks

It doesn’t matter whether you are a college or high school student, escaping a thanksgiving essay paper is like a camel trying to make its way past a needle’s eye. It is because, in every stage of life, there is a milestone you achieve, which requires you to give thanks. That is why you need pro thanksgiving essay ideas to spice up your paper.

What is an Essay on Thanksgiving?

It is a paper that expresses a sense of gratitude that people feel for all the good things in life.

Thanksgiving happens in a variety of forms such as:

• Gifting people
• Feasting with family

Therefore, an essay about Thanksgiving Day will seek to show what led to those events and how they unfolded. Below are ideas for your Thanksgiving Day essay:

Five Paragraph Essay About Thanksgiving

Such a paper will have an appealing introduction, three body paragraphs, and a summative conclusion. Use these prompts for your body paragraphs:

• Showing gratitude for having a country where you can confidently reside
• Giving thanks for prolonged periods of peace and political tranquility
• Appreciating the gift of a home and having a shelter over your roof
• Saying thank you for the friends and relatives you have
• Show your appreciation for being able to attend school and complete successfully

Thanksgiving History Writing Ideas

Here, it would help if you traced the roots of Thanksgiving Day in America with the following pointers in mind:

• American colonies that initiated the Thanksgiving day
• The role of the Pilgrims settling in the state of Massachusetts
• How agriculture contributed to this day
• The friendship between the Iroquois Indians and the pilgrims
• Why did George Washington suggest November 26th as the day of Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving Essay – What Are You Thankful For?

There are a plethora of reasons to be thankful for every day. For instance, you can appreciate the following:

• The gift of life every morning
• Having parents who care for you
• Being taken to college
• Being spared from the devastating effects of COVID-19
• Having a sense of belonging to a family
• Ability to walk, talk, see, hear, smell or taste
• Being healed from a dreadful disease
• Having a crime-free neighborhood
• Having completed your exams successfully
• Having a laptop where you can study online

Top Writing Prompts for a Thanksgiving Dinner Essay

For a dinner party where you will give a thanksgiving speech, here are possible ideas:

• Honoring your relative (grandpa, aunt, cousin)
• Celebrating a graduation ceremony
• Felicitations for a marriage proposal
• Giving thanks for a family reunion

Mary Moran Thanksgiving Essay

It is an essay touching on how Mary Moran, a Rhode Island schoolgirl, won a state Thanksgiving essay contest. It was in 1973, where she wrote a piece about the absurdity of Thanksgiving. Use these ideas for your inspiration:

• How dissatisfaction is the cause of unhappiness
• How faith can provide one with comfort and strength
• Why people are not thankful because they are not happy

What Thanksgiving Means to Me Essay Prompts

There are different meanings of Thanksgiving, depending on the context. Here are some of the implications:

• A natural impulse to the kindness received
• Reflecting on the deeds done to me and how I responded to them
• A time of feasting and celebrating
• A time of coming together

Now, let’s explore a thanksgiving narrative essay for your inspiration:

Being in a family is one of the most incredible things that ever happened to me. The gift of a mother, father, and two siblings thrills my heart at its thought. Not that it is a perfect family but that even in the imperfections, I give thanks for them. My mother is my most significant pillar. She is one person I can confidently lean on and trust despite any circumstance. I remember a time when I messed up in school, and I went back home. She lovingly spoke to me and took me back to school. There are many instances when she has supported me and held my hand in every step of the way. Having a father is a privilege that many yearn for every day. Whenever I head home from school, I know of someone who will scold me and buy me a present. He is always concerned about my performance in school, wanting to bring the best out of me. He indeed is a rock that firmly holds me from swaying here and there. And then there are these two loves, my little brother and sister. Stubborn and annoying as they may be, these two have been my best friends. In them, I have found real friends, confidants, and support systems. I can freely talk with them and feel renewed. All my sorrows melt away, and I am brave again to fight my battles. Indeed, blood is thicker than water. Belonging to a family is one of the greatest blessings I consider myself to have. I feel secure, healthy, supported, and, most of all, genuinely loved with them. They are like that guardian angel, always by your side.

Thanksgiving Essay – Easier Than It Seems

Writing a Thanksgiving essay is not that big of a deal, after all. The secret is to identify the specific aspect you are thankful for and build on it. If you are short of a specific one, do not worry, you can right on just about anything – even the air.

Nonetheless, if you need a professional paper, seek our world-class custom writing help at cheap rates today. We will avail you with all you need for an A+. Try us.

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Essay on Thanksgiving

Students are often asked to write an essay on Thanksgiving in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Thanksgiving

Introduction to thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a special holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. It is a day when people gather with family and friends to express gratitude for their blessings.

History of Thanksgiving

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621 after their first successful harvest in the New World. They invited Native Americans to join them in a feast of thanksgiving.

Modern Thanksgiving

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated with a festive meal that often includes turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. It’s a day to reflect on our blessings and spend time with loved ones.

Also check:

250 Words Essay on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving: a celebration of gratitude.

Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, is a holiday steeped in rich historical and cultural traditions. The essence of this festivity is to express gratitude for the year’s harvest and blessings.

The Historical Roots

The origins of Thanksgiving trace back to 1621 when Pilgrims and Native Americans shared a harvest feast in Plymouth. This event, often viewed as the “First Thanksgiving,” was a three-day celebration of collaboration and mutual respect, setting the tone for the holiday’s future iterations.

The Evolution of Thanksgiving

Over the centuries, Thanksgiving has evolved significantly. President Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday in 1863, during the Civil War, as a means to unite the nation. Today, it serves as a day for family and friends to gather, share a meal, and express gratitude.

Thanksgiving: A Cultural Phenomenon

Thanksgiving is not just a family gathering but also a cultural phenomenon, marked by iconic traditions such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and football games. It also signifies the start of the holiday season, leading up to Christmas and New Year.

Thanksgiving: A Time for Reflection

In the modern context, Thanksgiving is a time for reflection and acknowledgment of the year’s blessings. It encourages us to express gratitude not only for material abundance but also for relationships, health, and personal growth.

To conclude, Thanksgiving is a celebration of gratitude, rooted in history, and evolved into a cultural phenomenon. It is a testament to the enduring power of gratitude and the importance of community in our lives.

500 Words Essay on Thanksgiving

The historical roots of thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, is a national holiday steeped in early American history. It is generally attributed to the 1621 feast shared by the Pilgrims of Plymouth and the Wampanoag tribe, a celebration of successful harvest and survival in the New World. However, Thanksgiving was not officially recognized as a national holiday until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln, amidst the Civil War, proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

Cultural Significance and Traditions

Thanksgiving is a unique blend of secular and sacred elements. It is a time for family gatherings, feasting, parades, and football, but also a time for reflection and gratitude. The traditional Thanksgiving meal typically includes turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, echoing the autumnal harvest feast of the first Thanksgiving. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the NFL Thanksgiving games are modern additions, contributing to the holiday’s festive spirit.

Thanksgiving: A Symbol of Unity?

Thanksgiving is often hailed as a symbol of unity and inclusivity, a time when families and friends of diverse backgrounds come together to share a meal and express gratitude. However, this narrative is not without controversy. Critics argue that the holiday’s origins are rooted in the colonization and subsequent displacement of Native Americans, and therefore, it serves as a reminder of a painful history. As a result, some people observe a National Day of Mourning instead, to acknowledge the suffering of Native Americans.

Thanksgiving in the 21st Century

In the 21st century, Thanksgiving has evolved to reflect contemporary societal values. Many people now use this holiday as an opportunity to give back to their communities, volunteering their time or resources to help those less fortunate. Furthermore, in a world increasingly dominated by consumerism, the concept of gratitude that underpins Thanksgiving has taken on a new significance. It serves as a reminder to appreciate what we have and to resist the lure of constant consumption.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Thanksgiving Writing Prompts: 20 Creative Prompts to Practice Gratitude

by Abigail Perry | 0 comments

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It's Thanksgiving week! During this holiday, are you hoping to find some extra practice time for writing? Or maybe you're looking for some great Thanksgiving writing prompts that can help you express your gratitude?

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year for you to take a breath and slow down. You have a lot to do, I'm sure! However, sometimes taking a few minutes—even just fifteen minutes—in your day to show your gratitude can rejuvenate your holiday spirit.

In this article, you can have some quick and quiet writing time to reflect on what you're thankful for—by using one fo these twenty creative writing prompts and exercises.

Writing is Something to Be Grateful For

I have long admired writers and the stories they gift to the world. While writing can be hard and tedious work, it also offers endless ways to creatively express ourselves. In many cases, writing has therapeutic value. (It's not just for elementary students—although a fun writing prompt like the ones in this article do practice essential writing skills for elementary-aged students or homeschool students!)

For instance, taking the time to write can slow a person's mind down. When this happens, they are more likely to consider what is important to them, especially when they take the time to reflect on what is special in their life.

That's why, for today, I would like to invite you to try out one of the following writing prompts. Although there are undeniable hardships in the world, it's important to also remember the good things.

Use a daily writing prompt like the ones in this article to help express your gratitude . Perhaps they'll even put you into the spirit of giving!

20 Thanksgiving Writing Prompts to Spark Your Gratitude

Short story thanksgiving writing prompts.

If you're hoping to write a short story over the holiday break, these five prompt ideas are a wonderful place to start. Short story writer and author Sarah Gribble recommends writing a short story in one sitting. Take one of these ideas and set your clock, then run with your own narrative!

• Every year on Thanksgiving morning, Sandy Johnson's family visits her grandmother's grave. This year, there's a myserteous letter from an anonymous sender waiting for them.
• Tim has trained for years to dance with his team in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Minutes before the parade begins, something terrible happens to Tim that could crush his dream forever.
• Two best friends separated by life's unexpected events have made a vow to meet up once every year on Thanksgiving. They've done this faithfully for twenty years, which makes it all the more concerning when one of them doesn't show up as promised.
• Kelly Johnson finally did it. He's invented a time machine that will allow him to go back in time to this exact date on Thanksgiving. The only question is, where will he go and what year will he choose? Each decision is paramount if Kelly wants to win back the love of his life.
• Puppy's best friend is a pet Turkey. They do everything together on the farm, from chasing sheep to trudging through the forest. One day, Puppy overhears the farmer talking about eating Turkey for Thanksgiving supper. With only a week left, Puppy will stop at nothing to change the farmer's mind.

Poem Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

You don't need to write a short story or novel to practice writing. Try one of these five Thanksgiving writing prompts to inspire a poem.

• Write a haiku about your favorite Thanksgiving tradition.
• Write an acrostic poem with one of these words: THANKFUL, GRATEFUL, FAMLY, TRADITION, FEAST.
• Write a poem about the ten steps to a happy Thanksgiving day.
• Write a sonnet to your favorite Thanksgiving food or favorite fall desserts.
• Write a limerick for a small child about the meaning of Thanksgiving.

Journal Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

Journaling is an incredible way to reflect on what we are thankful for—and boost out happiness in the process. Try journaling about one of these five Thanksgiving writing prompts to elevate your mood.

• Describe how five people helped you get you through some rough patches this year.
• Journal about five things that you appreciate each day, each one triggering a different sense: sight, smell, touch, sound, taste.
• Write about the one thing that you are most grateful for today.
• Journal about something that you really enjoyed doing during your spare time in the month of November.
• Write about something new you learned to do this year—and liked. Describe how this made you feel.

Card Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

There's no better time of the year to take some time to write cards to those we are thankful for! Grab a blank card, piece of white paper, or thank you card to write a special note . You might be surprised, but sometimes a thoughtful note is an unexpected and perfect gift.

• Write a thank you card to a teacher about something that made you feel encouraged this year.
• Write a special note to a child about how they make your life special.
• Write a card to a parent or grandparent about what they mean to you in your life.
• Write a note to a sibling about how you enjoy THIS about them.
• Write a card to a friend, thanking them for doing THIS.

Take Time to Write, and Be Thankful

Thanksgiving is a busy time of year, but even taking a few minutes in your day to write can make a difference for your mental health—or in the life of someone you love, and to whom you wrote a special note.

Whether you write stories or poems, or prefer journaling or writing a quick card, touching people with our words is a great way to express ourselves creatively. It also is a wonderful way to build relationships and put joy and love back into the world.

I hope you take a few minutes to try out one of these writing prompts! And Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you most thankful for this year? Let us know in the comments .

Happy Thanksgiving! For today's writing practice, pick one of the twenty writing prompts from the article. Start by choosing the type of writing you want to explore, and then pull your favorite prompt from the list.

Spend fifteen minutes to work on this. When you're done, we'd love to see what you picked and why! Share your practice in the Pro Practice Workshop , and leave feedback for a few other writers.

Not a member? Join us .

Abigail Perry

Abigail Perry is a Certified Story Grid Editor with professional teaching, literary agency, and film production experience. In addition to writing Story Grid masterwork guides, she works as a freelance editor and is the Content Editor for The Write Practice. Abigail loves stories that put women and diverse groups at the center of the story—and others that include superpowers and magic. Her favorite genres include: Smart Book Club Fiction, Women's Fiction, YA Fantasy, Historical Fiction, and unique memoirs. She also has a B.S. in TV, Radio, and Film and loves working on screenplays that are emotionally driven and/or full of action. You can learn more about Abigail on her website.

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Thanksgiving’s Day History: From Showing Gratefulness to God to National Holiday Descriptive Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
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Primarily celebrated in the United States and Canada, thanksgiving has over the years transformed itself from the original idea of showing gratefulness to God for his favors to a fully fledged national holiday observed on the last Thursday of every November and the second Monday of every October in the United States and Canada respectively. During this festivity, a lot of brain and body input is swung into action as a result of the various activities carried out by various groups of people to commemorate this event.

From the ancient days to date, certain activities have remained as they were while others have been continuously been revolutionized, all in the name of observing this highly observed occasion. Virtually all the human senses are put to the test while observing thanksgiving taking into account the fact that it is a highly anticipated occasion or holyday rather. According it the kind of importance it deserves is hence quit imperative.

In the modern day thanksgiving festivity, the most utilized human sense is that of taste. This is because the entire citizenry in these countries which observe thanksgiving always strive to see to it that they direct a considerable amount of time, energy and resources to the kitchen so as to enable them put a decent meal on the table.

Despite not being a replica of the original meals ate while observing thanksgiving during its early years of inception, a constant trend of feasting on a specific caliber of food which more often than not include the turkey has been noted to characterize almost all the dinner tables over the last couple of years.

This state of affairs hence renders the sense of taste the most utilized one with respect to the fact that almost all the households prepare their meals with missionary zeal. Striving to satisfy everybody’s sense of taste during this festivity also has a multiplier effect on yet another vital human sense; that of smell. This is occasioned by the endearing aroma that always emanate from every household’s kitchen. It is hence safe to say that the human sense of taste cannot be completely satisfied without appeasing that of smell.

This momentous occasion is also characterized with outdoor events that involve utilizing the human sense of sight quite expeditiously. Sight often comes in quite handy during this event since several open field activities take place on this date too.

In the United States for instance, a massive parade constituted of giant floats, matching bands and even convoys of celebrated icons in the entertainment industry often match along the 5 th avenue in New York. This event always attracts thousands of sight seers who come to enjoy themselves either by observing or taking part in the activity.

Song, dance and even prayer also decorate this callous celebration. Very appeasing tunes often heard both live or on television also seek to satisfy the human sense of hearing. In as much as the satisfaction of the senses of smell, taste and sight are of great importance, it is equally important to acknowledge the fact that these celebrations would be out rightly dull and unbearable if the sense of hearing was to be neglected.

It hence makes much sense to conclude this essay by attesting to the fact that for a fulfilling commemoration of the thanksgiving event, the satisfaction of almost all the human senses is deemed necessary. It is also important to take part in this celebration since it helps to renew one’s commitment to the family and the general nourishment of the society. These activities also help to encourage or promote unity by encouraging a sense of belonging among people hence emphasizing the importance of harmonious living.

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IvyPanda. (2018, October 31). Thanksgiving’s Day History: From Showing Gratefulness to God to National Holiday. https://ivypanda.com/essays/thanksgiving/

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A Heartwarming Thanksgiving Narrative: Embracing Family and Traditions

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Essays on Thanksgiving

Need to write a Thanksgiving essay? Consult our Thanksgiving essay samples for facts and notes about this awesome holiday. Thanksgiving is a harvest festival, celebrated mainly in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving essays explore the history of this day as well as its many traditions. The main idea of Thanksgiving was “giving thanks” – expressing gratitude and appreciation to God for a bountiful harvest, good health, and other blessings. In the US, Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November, while in Canada – on the second Monday of October. Many essays on Thanksgiving boil down the main traditions of Thanksgiving to feasting on roasted turkey and pumpkin pie and giving thanks for the good that the current year brought. We prepared some essay samples below that you can check out if you need some tips for your essays.

1. In my house, one of the most critical ritual meals is the Thanksgiving feast, which must include a stuffed turkey. It is an important feast for thanksgiving and reaffirming ideas and assumptions relevant to American cultural and social solidarity (Williams-Forson, 2008). The family gathered physically and emotionally for the...

Words: 1012

My Ten-Hour Carrier Learning Project at Friendly House After my ten-hour carrier learning project at Friendly House in Worcester, I learned a lot about the community service, food pantry, immigration service, and after school programs. In this paper, I reflect on the matters I achieved during this service learning, as expected...

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Traditions are practices or values that are handed on in a culture because of their symbolic meaning. Throughout the world, diverse cultures adopt and follow a number of rituals that have important significance for them. Specifically, many rituals have been followed for thousands of years without sacrificing their significance. The...

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What Does Thanksgiving Mean to You?

We selected four articles from The Times that each takes on a different perspective about the holiday. Which resonates the most with your experience?

By Nicole Daniels

Find all our Student Opinion questions here.

Are you looking forward to Thanksgiving? Or do you dread the holiday? Do you have certain Thanksgiving traditions? Do you think they are the same or different for other people in your school or community?

In this special Thanksgiving Student Opinion, we have selected four articles from The Times that each takes on a different perspective about Thanksgiving. Read the four excerpts and choose the one that resonates most with your experience of Thanksgiving and share your response to the question: What does Thanksgiving mean to you?

In “ Turn Off Your Phone for Thanksgiving ,” David Leonhardt writes about using Thanksgiving as a time to disconnect from phones, tablets and computers and to focus on connecting with others:

This week, Americans will endure flight delays, traffic jams and other logistical miseries to spend time with family and friends. And when the holiday weekend is ending, many will lament that they don’t get to spend enough time with those relatives and friends. But during the weekend itself, these same lamenters will spend a lot of time ignoring the people around them and distractedly staring into their phones. They will get a notification and disappear down a digital rabbit hole of Facebook posts, text messages and fantasy-football updates. They will monitor the comments on the photos they just posted, instead of engaging with the human beings in those photos. Many of us have a complicated relationship with our phones. We enjoy them in the moment. Yet when we reflect on all the time we spend looking at a tiny screen, we feel lousy about it. We pine for a less addictive relationship with the online world. So let me make a suggestion for this Thanksgiving weekend: Turn off your phone, and keep it off for a full 24 hours. I predict you’ll be surprised by how much you’ll like it.

The nutritionist and writer Christy Harrison acknowledges that Thanksgiving can be an emotionally overwhelming and stressful time and that for some of us, just enjoying food without regret is the best way to remain in contact with our feelings. In “ Go Ahead. Eat Your Holiday Feelings ,” Ms. Harrison writes:

The Thanksgiving table can be an emotional battlefield. Whether because of resurfaced sibling rivalry, blended-family tensions or mealtime political debate, the togetherness that we hope will inspire gratitude is notorious for causing stress instead. One subtle insult or off-color comment from a relative, and it begins: You feel your blood pressure rising, your palms sweating, your face getting hot. Suddenly, you’re inhaling the sliver of pumpkin pie you’d just been picking at a minute ago. Next, you’re going back for a second big slice. Your stomach already feels full, but you can’t stop eating. If you’re like many Americans, you then feel guilty. You chastise yourself for handling the difficult moment the wrong way — the “weak” way. For “eating your feelings.” But eating emotionally, which conventional wisdom says is dysfunctional and even pathological, is actually just a normal part of being human. We don’t turn to food in response to negative feelings because we’re broken or out of control, or because food is addictive. We do it because it’s one of many ways in which we (even the most balanced eaters) cope, and in the grand scheme of things, it’s a pretty harmless one. We should embrace eating in response to our feelings — pleasure, excitement, sadness and, yes, that special brand of family-inspired stress — at Thanksgiving, and all year long.

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Thanksgiving Essay Example

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Thanksgiving , Life , Friendship , Friends , Time , Opportunity , Black Friday , Nation

Words: 1300

Published: 02/01/2020

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Introduction

Traditionally, Thanksgiving is an occasion, mainly celebrated in the US and Canada, to offer special thanks to the almighty in appreciation of the abundance of food and happiness blessing our lives. In celebration of Thanksgiving, people get together with their friends and family over gourmet food and feasting meal comprised of delicacies including roasted turkey, potatoes, stuffing, dainty vegetables and pumpkin pies. A national holiday Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November in the US. Thanksgiving is a popular time of the year when people meet their families, travel extensively and indulge in a binge of shopping. Since there are many discounts offered on almost on all the goods sold in shops, it is a favorite season for shopping. Being a national holiday, most of the government offices, schools, colleges, universities, business houses remain closed on Thanksgiving. The entire country wears a festive look and revels in the madness of the celebration on this day. Going forward in this article, I would like to delve deeper into the subject of Thanksgiving by throwing light on its historical background, the purpose of its celebration, misinterpretation of Thanksgiving by the current generation and Thanksgiving viewed from the eyes of a foreigner spending his first Thanksgiving in the states.

History of Thanksgiving

The history of Thanksgiving dates back to the fall of 1621 when pilgrims and native Americans celebrated the joy of their successful harvest in Plymouth, Massachusetts amidst a three day long feast of fresh produce and merrymaking. But the mere celebration of good harvest did not translate into an annual celebration or national holiday overnight. What set the base for celebration in 1621 later on morphed into a sporadic tradition of offering thanks for specific blessings of life including the end of a drought, good harvest or a win in a particular battle. It was only in 1777 in the month of October that 13 colonies came together in celebration of Thanksgiving in unison. Thanksgiving got a national recognition in 1789 with President George Washington announcing Thursday, November 26 to be a day of prayer and thanksgiving in acknowledgement of the opportunity to offer thanks for the formation of a new nation and a viable constitution. Still, Thanksgiving didn't become an annual celebration. It was due to the efforts taken by a lady called Sarah Josepha Hale that the concept of modern day celebration of annual Thanksgiving came into picture. At a time when the civil war was bearing down on the integrity of United States, on her suggestion the then president Abraham Lincoln took the opportunity of bringing the nation together by declaring the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving, thereby awarding it a status of a national and annual holiday. The successive presidents of Lincoln honoring the tradition set by him proclaimed the last Thursday of November to be a day of Thanksgiving. Only aberration occurred in 1939 during the tenure of President Franklin D. Roosevelt who taking the complaint of retailers into consideration pre-poned the day of Thanksgiving a week earlier, giving rise to a lot of controversy.

Purpose of Thanksgiving

In our busy day to day life, we often forget to be thankful for the simple things that we enjoy but take for granted, such as food, clothing, health, shelter, job, family and friends. Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to be grateful for what we have and offer our support to people who are going through some rough phases of their lives by inviting them to be a part of a Thanksgiving dinner and lighten them up. The purpose of Thanksgiving not only lies in being thankful for what we have but in giving back the joys we have to people around us who are in suffering. It is a time when getting together with friends and family, we refresh our memories by looking back to some beautiful moments of our life and recreate new memories. It is that time of the year when people forget their differences in opinion and conflict partaking in the celebration of unity and of being thankful.

Misinterpretation of Thanksgiving by the Current Generation

Black Friday is the day that comes right after Thanksgiving, kickstarting a shopping season for Christmas. Now due to the retailers all around the United States giving a whopping discounts on Black Friday, Thanksgiving is losing its purpose as there are many people who try to get over with their Thanksgiving dinner as quickly as possible to line in a queue for hours, shove their way into the retail stores to avail the special discounts offered on Black Friday. In order to manage the rush of frenzied shoppers, many stores open in the wee hours of Thanksgiving and therefore, people who wait the entire year to make use of this moment of opportunity of purchasing goods in an unusually lower price choose shopping on Black Friday over their Thanksgiving dinner. The melee over availing the Black Friday deals is very unnerving. There have been instances of an employee in Wal-Mart having been crushed under the feet of frantic consumers trying to get hold of the items on sale. Such incidents are becoming largely common these days. Therefore, it is time when we should reflect back and think if in the rush of getting good deals, are we not corroding the age-old essence of Thanksgiving along with our morals? Thanksgiving is a day meant to be spent with family and friends in appreciation for the simple things of our life and not in chasing good deals.

Thanksgiving in the Eyes of a Foreigner

I am foreign to US, having come a long way from an Asian country. Last year was the first time I had the opportunity of spending Thanksgiving in the US. I was invited to a dinner thrown by a friend. I was thoroughly impressed by the Thanksgiving tradition of offering thanks for the little pleasures of life we bask in. The food, feasting and the conversation contributed to making my first Thanksgiving dinner a memorable one. I felt truly blessed of being a part of this wonderful custom that Thanksgiving offers.

Thanksgiving is a meaningful occasion, coming on the fourth Thursday of November that gives us an opportunity to spend time with family and friends in reflection of the good things we have in our life. The tradition of Thanksgiving dating back to as early as 1621 did not change into a national holiday and an annual celebration overnight, taking few hundred years for the official Thanksgiving date to be announced. The purpose of Thanksgiving in being thankful and spreading the joys around is, however, losing its substance in the face of a huge craze over Black Friday shopping with stores beginning to open in the wee hours of Thanksgiving night. The current generation of people indulge themselves more in pursuing the deals offered on Black Friday than spending a night of festivity among friends. Personally my tryst with Thanksgiving has been a wonderful one. Having been invited over dinner to a friend's house, I have got the opportunity to indulge in the tradition of feasting and offering thanks for every simple pleasure of life. The very essence and purpose of the entire celebration is so meaningful that one is bound to bask in its glory, whether Christian or not.

- How FDR Changed Thanksgiving, Jennifer Rosenberg, http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/a/thanksgiving.html(15th April 2013) - The purpose of Thanksgiving, Kat Ballew, November 2010, http://www.helium.com/items/2012265-what-is-thanksgiving-the-purpose-of-thanksgiving-the-real-meaning-of-thanksgiving (15th April 2013) - Is Black Friday edging out Thanksgiving?, Bob Greene, November 19, 2012, http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/18/opinion/greene-black-friday (15th April 2013)

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My Favorite Holiday – Thanksgiving Day

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