The Thanksgiving legacy that been around for hundreds of years now. It has developed its own charm and significance over many generations. The reasons to why they are celebrated may have evolved over the many years but their importance and the sense of identity for which they stand today could not be more significant. It is a day when people get together with their loved ones, offer prayers, spend time with one another and have a nourishing meal with people whom you would call family. There are many customs and traditions that are followed for Thanksgiving.
Prayers
A perfect way of starting the day of Thanksgiving for many families would be by offering prayers in the church. This is done in order to Thank God for his kindness and people come to seek his blessings specially on this day. It is also a day to show gratitude to your friends and relatives for all the good deeds.
Decoration
Thanksgiving is a great occasion to decorate your house to make it look beautiful. On the run up to this day people clean the house and decorate it with fresh and dried flowers and wreaths. This gives the house interiors a wholly new look and a different feel. The house can also be well lit with new lamps that will not only add up to the ambience but also the overall décor. Plus lots of homes pull out the best china and cutlery for the feast during Thanksgiving.
Custom of sending messages
Thanksgiving is a also a day when people send loving messages and warm wishes to their relatives, colleagues at work place, superiors and subordinates, near and dear ones. It is a day of conveying their feelings through Thanksgiving cards.
Custom of Family Dinner
One of the most enticing aspects of Thanksgiving is the sit down family dinner. Regardless of distances relatives drive down to their homes to be with their families.
Everyone follows the custom of family dinner and reunion religiously every year. Feasts are usually held at home. It is a time to enjoy their favorite 'Roasted Turkey' with the family. Turkey dish has now become a staple food across most homes on Thanksgiving. Cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, corns, potatoes and other dishes too are commonly cooked dishes across most homes. Roasted turkey has become so popular and part of the Thanksgiving tradition today that one can assume the celebrations would be incomplete without it.
Parade
Parade is another very eagerly awaited and famous aspect of Thanksgiving. Parades are held in a lot of cities across America but the most popular among them all is the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade of New York. The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was in 1924. The parade began on a very small scale, and it became bigger with each passing year, after 24 years since its inception, it was televised locally in 1948. Fours years later in 1952 the parade received national coverage. Today the three hour parade gets telecast across millions of homes on TV. More than 2.5 million people line the streets every year to see giant balloons, floats, marching bands, and waving celebrities. The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features more than 10,000 participants, along with fabulous floats and Macy's signature giant helium character balloons.
Football
The beautiful game of football forms a key part of Thanksgiving Day. Virtually every level of football, from amateur and Virtually every level of football, from amateur and high school to college and the NFL (and even the CFL on Canadian Thanksgiving), plays football on Thanksgiving or the subsequent weekend.