kids.nationalgeographic.com Open in urlscan Pro
18.66.192.74  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Skip to content

Search
Shop
Games
Puzzles
Action
Funny Fill-In
Videos
Amazing Animals
Weird But True!
Party Animals
Try This!
Animals
Mammals
Birds
Prehistoric
Reptiles
Amphibians
Invertebrates
Fish
Explore More
Magazine
history
Science
Space
U.S. States
Weird But True!
Subscribe
menu

>
mexico

Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.



THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS

People all over the United States celebrate this day in many different ways. See
how folks make this holiday special.




Each year Americans in the United States celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday on
the fourth Thursday of November. Most families follow traditions begun on the
first Thanksgiving, but many have their own traditions that they follow each
year. Here are some of the common traditions associated with Turkey Day.


TRAVEL

Photograph by ZouZou, Shutterstock
Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Most years, one of the best things about Thanksgiving is spending time with
family. Many people live far from family members and travel long distances by
car, train, or plane to be with their loved ones. Thanksgiving is often one of
the busiest travel days of the year!


THE TURKEY PARDON

Each year at Thanksgiving, the president of the United States receives a gift of
two live turkeys. At a White House ceremony, the president traditionally
"pardons" the National Thanksgiving Turkeys so they can live on a farm.

Check out this easy recipe for homemade cinnamin apple cider.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MIKE PIAZZA
Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.


THE FEAST

Traditional foods are a large part of Thanksgiving celebrations. Many families
include the entire family in the food preparation. Traditional foods include
turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and
cranberry sauce. Many people serve pie for dessert at the end of the meal.
Popular pie flavors are pumpkin, pecan, sweet potato, and apple.



Some families choose to serve vegetarian Thanksgiving dinners instead of a
stuffed turkey. They might eat vegetarian turkey, which can be made out of tofu.
Others eat squash, salads, or other fruit and vegetable dishes.


THE WISHBONE

Some families include breaking the turkey's wishbone as part of their
celebration. The wishbone is found attached to the breast meat in the turkey's
chest. After the meat has been removed and the wishbone has had a chance to
become dry and brittle, two people each take one end of the bone, make a wish,
and pull. Whoever ends up with the larger part of the bone gets their wish!

Photograph by Creatas Images/Jupiter Images
Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.


TV

Many families watch the New York City Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which
includes marching bands, floats, songs and performances from Broadway musicals,
and giant helium-filled balloons! People like to watch football games—maybe your
family likes to play one outside!


Giant helium-filled balloons are a highlight of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day
Parade.
Photograph by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images
Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.


HELPING OTHERS

Thanksgiving is a great time to help out people who might not be as lucky as
you. Some people volunteer to serve food at homeless shelters; others donate to
shelters or participate in canned food drives.


AFTER THE MEAL

The food is eaten, the dishes are washed ... now it's time to relax. Some
families take bike rides, go on walks, or take naps. Others play board or card
games together.


FUN FACTS

• A ripe cranberry will bounce.

• All turkeys and chickens have wishbones.

• Canadians celebrate their own Thanksgiving every October.

• Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863.

• The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in 1924.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





MORE


NATIVE AMERICANS

Sacagawea


 * Women Heroes


SACAGAWEA

The Native-American woman who showed Lewis and Clark the way


(AD) ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE


AMERICA HEADS WEST

How Lewis and Clark—along with a Native American guide, Sacagawea—explored the
newly expanded United States

LEGAL

 * Terms of Use
 * Privacy Policy
 * Your US State Privacy Rights
 * Children's Online Privacy Policy
 * Interest-Based Ads
 * About Nielsen Measurement
 * Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

OUR SITES

 * National Geographic
 * National Geographic Education
 * Shop Nat Geo
 * Customer Service

JOIN US

 * Subscribe
 * Manage Your Subscription



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2023 National
Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved