The United States celebrates Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November. Initially hailed as Harvest Festival, the day gradually turned into national celebration since 1789. Former US President Abraham Lincoln further solidified its significance by declaring Thanksgiving Day to be observed as a federal holiday. Alongside Christmas and the New Year Eve, Thanksgiving has now become a part of the country’s winter holiday season. America celebrated its first Thanksgiving in October 1621. Both Pilgrims and the Native Americans joined the three-day long feast. Now, who these Pilgrims were, how all this started, and which are going to be the best Thanksgiving Day parades in 2018? You’ll find answers to all these questions as you read further.
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Why did the Thanksgiving begin?
What began as a Harvest celebration in the late 1800s turned into a nationwide festival with the advent of the 20th century. Nowadays, Thanksgiving Day is also known as a special occasion to teach children of all age groups the value of American freedom and their role as a good citizen.
When and where was the first Thanksgiving celebrated in the United States?
The United States celebrated its first Thanksgiving in 1621 at Plymouth, Massachusetts. The three-day long feast brought Pilgrims and Native Americans together.
Who were the Pilgrims?
The Pilgrims were the first English settlers who formed a colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The core group had fled from England to settle in the Netherlands. However, they collaborated with investors to establish a colony in America to retain their cultural identity intact.
When is the Thanksgiving Day in 2018?
This year, the United States will celebrate Thanksgiving Day on 22 November, Thursday.
What is served in a traditional Thanksgiving dinner?
The traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes roasted turkey, corn pudding, cheese grits, roasted sweet potato, red pepper, avocado salad, bacon, green beans, and pumpkin pie with walnut crust.
Which other countries, besides the United States, celebrate Thanksgiving?
Canada, Germany, Liberia, Japan, and a few island nations in the Caribbean celebrate Thanksgiving. The festival dates vary from place to place.
Top Five Thanksgiving Day Parades in USA
Filling the country’s streets with a glowy warmth of winter holidays has been an unforgettable tradition of the Thanksgiving day. Cities throughout the United States give a flying start to the holiday season with fun-filled Thanksgiving parades. Cartoon characters, giant balloons, acrobats, floats, music bands, singers, and a variety of other entertainers walk on famous boulevards and streets of America. While the New York City plays host to the biggest Thanksgiving parade, you can also catch the soaring excitement in several other cities. Mentioned below are the most popular Thanksgiving parades to look forward to in the coming days.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade – New York City, New York
| Date | 22 November 2018 (Thursday) |
|---|---|
| Time | 9 am – 12 noon |
| Starting Point | 7 West 77th Street |
| Endpoint | 34th Street, Herald Square |
| Nearest Car Parking | 15 W 72nd St., Entry from streets northern side between Central Park West and Columbus Ave |
| Nearest Car Hire Pick up Point | Manhattan Upper West Side |
| Nearest Airport to New York City | New York City LaGuardia Airport [LGA] |
McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade, Chicago, Illinois
| Date | 22 November 2018 (Thursday) |
|---|---|
| Time | 8 am – 11 am |
| Starting Point | State Street, Congress Plaza |
| Endpoint | State Street, Randolph |
| Nearest Car Parking | 30 W Monroe St. |
| Nearest Car Hire Pick up Point | Chicago Downtown |
| Nearest Airport to Chicago | Chicago Midway Airport [MDW] |
America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade, Plymouth, Massachusetts
| Date | 17 November 2018 (Saturday) |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:30 am |
| Starting Point | Benny’s Plaza, Court Street |
| Endpoint | Water Street |
| Nearest Car Parking | 234 Water St. |
| Nearest Car Hire Pick up Point | Boston Marriott Copley Place, Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, USA |
| Nearest Airport to Plymouth | Boston Logan Airport [BOS] |
America’s Thanksgiving Parade, Detroit, Michigan
| Date | 22 November 2018 (Thursday) |
|---|---|
| Time | 9 am – 12 noon |
| Starting Point | Woodward Avenue |
| Endpoint | Congress Street |
| Nearest Car Parking | Port Atwater Parking Garage, 200 Beaubien St |
| Nearest Car Hire Pick up Point | Detroit Airport [DTW] |
| Nearest Airport to Detroit | Windsor International Airport [YQG] |
H-E-B Thanksgiving Parade, Houston, Texas
| Date | 22 November 2018 (Thursday) |
|---|---|
| Time | 9 am – 12 noon |
| Starting Point | Smith and Lamar Streets |
| Endpoint | Smith and Dallas Streets |
| Nearest Car Parking | Heritage Clay Garage, 1200 Bagby St, Houston |
| Nearest Car Hire Pick up Point | Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston Downtown, 1515 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77010, USA |
| Nearest Airport to Houston | William P. Hobby Airport [HOU] |