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Thanksgiving: Let Us Give Thanks
The day Americans have set aside to give thanks is the fourth Thursday in November – Thanksgiving Day. It is a special day for family gatherings at home. Some people who live away from their family have to travel many miles so they can enjoy family time during this special holiday. George Washington called for a national day of Thanksgiving in 1789. It was to give thanks for America’s victory in the War of Independence. Did you know that in 1863 President Abraham Lincoln set aside the last Thursday in November to be celebrated each year as Thanksgiving Day? Thanksgiving meal: Deserts: To observe a day of thanks is not only an American custom, but it goes back as far as ancient Greece. Thousands of years ago the Greeks held a harvest feast in honor of Demeter, their goddess of farming. The Romans also held a feast for their goddess of farming. The Jewish people have celebrated days of thanksgiving for thousands of years. Have you ever heard of The Feast of Tabernacles, or Booths, called Sukkoth? This is how they honored their harvest. The people made little booths, or baskets, and placed fruits and vegetables inside them, and gave thanks to God. The Jewish people still celebrate, and give thanks for their many blessings. Today many countries celebrate days of thanksgiving. In many nations they are related to the country’s day of independence. In America, we have one special day of celebration called Thanksgiving Day, in which we give thanks for our many blessings, and our freedom. Let’s make Thanksgiving Day better each year by giving thanks not only for our nation, but let us ask for blessings and joy to cover the entire world.
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When is Thanksgiving? 
