November: What is “Thanksgiving” in the United States of America?

Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and additional blessings of the past year. It’s observed on the last Thursday of November. It is believed to be a recreation of the “harvest feast of 1621” between the English pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native American tribe. The two people were said to have a big feast together in celebration of their harvest. However, many other stories have been told about what really happened during those times. Many native Americans tell a different story about how the European settlers came to North American and destroyed their land and people. As a Black American with Native American ancestry, I have learned how true history can be altered or omitted. Therefore, our family chooses to remember our past, while forming our own customs and traditions. So do we celebrate Thanksgiving? Well, sort of. We use this time to have a feast with our closest family members and friends. And we all remember and discuss the things in our lives that we are most grateful for. Because at the end of the day, it’s never bad to acknowledge our countless blessings from God.