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LOCAL Thursday 26 November 2020

Today We Say Thank You

ORANJESTAD – Thanksgiv- ditionally kicks off the ‘holi- ing, potatoes, cranberries,
ing Day is an annual na- day season’ in the United and pumpkin pie. With re-
tional holiday in the United States. The day was set in spect to vehicular travel,
States and Canada cel- stone by President Franklin the holiday is often the bus-
ebrating the harvest and D. Roosevelt in 1939 and iest of the year, as family
other blessings of the past approved by Congress in members gather with one
year. Americans generally 1941. FDR changed it from another.
believe that their Thanks- Abraham Lincoln’s desig-
giving is modeled on a nation as the last Thursday Many Americans think it
1621 harvest feast shared in November (because of it as just as important
by the English colonists (Pil- there are sometimes five as Christmas. In fact, more
grims) of Plymouth and the Thursdays in the month). people in the US celebrate
Wampanoag people. The American holiday is Thanksgiving than they do
particularly rich in leg- Christmas. Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving 2020 is on end and symbolism, and Day is a secular holiday in a
Thursday November 26th, the traditional fare of the country that officially sep-
the day before Black Fri- Thanksgiving meal typically arates church and state
day. Thanksgiving Day tra- includes turkey, bread stuff- so this probably makes
sense. Thanksgiving can be
traced back to 1621 where
refugees from England,
known as Pilgrims, invited
the local Native Americans
to a harvest feast after they
experienced a successful
season of produce growth. ognized that everything year, this Thanksgiving will
But it wasn’t just the eco- we have is a gift from God be a special edition if only
nomic drive that allowed – even our sorrows. Their for the fact that we appre-
the Pilgrims to prosper. It Thanksgiving tradition was ciate our health and wel-
was their devotion to God established to honor God fare so much more after liv-
and His laws. And that’s and thank Him for His bless- ing the past 11 months.
what Thanksgiving is really ings and His grace. Happy Thanksgiving to all
all about. The Pilgrims rec- 2020 is not your average of you!q