Thanksgiving

The holiday of Thanksgiving goes back to America's colonial roots. When the colonists from England, and other places, began to create settlements along what is today the East Coast of America, their lives were very difficult. They often struggled to have enough to eat because the farms and markets they had used in Europe were not there. So a good harvest, hunt, or fishing expedition was cause for celebration -- and eating a big meal before the food that could not be stored spoiled.

Gathering with friends and family to celebrate the good things which life offers by sharing a meal is a richly American tradition. National holidays of thanksgiving have been proclaimed by most of our Presidents, starting with George Washington, usually around the time of autumn harvests. In modern times, the Thanksgiving holiday became a formal celebration under President Franklin Roosevelt on the last Thursday of November. Today, Thanksgiving is a major holiday an a time we can