Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year, to show gratitude for the successful harvest and the pleasant events that may have occurred in the preceding year. The morning begins with a family gathering to offer prayers. The celebration basically begins in the evening, with the feast being the highlight. Several traditional dishes are cooked, with turkey being the center of attention. People also love to decorate their homes to create a festive ambiance. This day was officially celebrated first by the Americans in the year 1621 at Plymouth, Massachusetts. However, evidence of the first Thanksgiving celebration was found in Florida and Virginia in the year 1565 and 1619 respectively. The day is significant since the Native Americans assisted the pilgrims to cultivate the land for them, thereby saving the city from starvation. Thus, Thanksgiving became popular as the harvest festival and today it is widely celebrated not only in the United States, but also in Europe. Ideas Basically it's a food festival, where people love to cook a variety of dishes and the turkey is a must. Unofficially, this festival is also known as the turkey day, since a huge roasted turkey is centered on the table, surrounded by appetizers, side dishes, drinks, and desserts. Apart from that, people love to decorate their houses, incorporating other elements that add joy to the festive season. Food Ideas A variety of dishes are cooked on this day. When friends and family have gathered, the preparations also go large. Do not forget to roast turkey, bake pies and cookies and serve drinks. It is suggested that you keep the menu simple, so that you can spend more time with your guests. Prepare tasty dishes for kids so that they too enjoy the food. Check out the following articles to know the ideal menus on this special occasion.

• Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes
• Easy Thanksgiving Recipes
• Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes
• Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas
• Easy Thanksgiving Desserts

Activity Ideas A Thanksgiving party without games, crafts, and other activities will be boring. After snacks, you can engage yourself in games for entertainment. This will not only be fun but also increase your appetite. Arrange for the play materials and then start the games like--charades, cornucopia confusion, treasure hunt and so on. Read the following articles to know the games and activities to carry out on the Thanksgiving day.

• Thanksgiving Games for Kids
• Thanksgiving Games for Adults
• Thanksgiving Trivia Questions and Answers
• Thanksgiving Day Activities
• Crafts for Adults

Decoration Ideas Decorating your home on this special day increases the flavor of the festive season. Making centerpieces with flowers, organizing the table and the interiors are wonderful celebration ideas. It is pleasant to have your house filled with the aroma of candles and fragrance of flowers. Get the decorating tips from the articles enlisted below.

• Thanksgiving Favors
• Outdoor Thanksgiving Decorations

Let happiness and joy fill your life on this day with the present year end and commencement of the new year.