A public holiday in the United States, Thanksgiving, meaning “thank you for giving” and expressing a feeling of gratitude, is celebrated across the Atlantic on the fourth Thursday of November. This party is finding more and more fans in France: restaurant menus offer pumpkin pies, mashed sweet potatoes or cranberry sauce while the shelves of supermarkets offer turkeys to cook, a month before Christmas.
What do you need to know about this American tradition to make it your own and celebrate with dignity? Decryption.
Where does this tradition come from?
Originally, theThe first American Thanksgiving would have been organized by English settlers from Plymouth, near Boston (Massachusetts) in 1621, who would have shared a meal with Native Americans after a good harvest. It was a way of thanking them for helping them cultivate the land and thus escape famine after a very harsh winter. This holiday gradually became established throughout the United States and was proclaimed a national holiday in 1863.
HAS what does a traditional meal look like?
For the occasion, the American tables are well stocked. The menu traditionally consists of a roasted and stuffed turkey, baked seasonal vegetables such as pumpkin, corn, squash, green beans or broad beans, mashed sweet potatoes or gratin with marshmallows, a brown or cranberry sauce (also called lingonberry or cranberry sauce), pumpkin pie, pecan pie or butternut cheesecake. All served with homemade cornbread.
What do Americans do during this celebration?
Apart from sharing a meal with family or loved ones, Americans take advantage of the day to organize large family gatherings, watch parades on television, such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, or follow American football matches broadcast in the afternoon.
The day after this day, it is Black Friday, now imported to Europe, a day during which consumers find good deals and take the opportunity to make their Christmas gifts. For several years, this weekend has been followed by Cyber Monday, another very attractive day for online shopping…
