In observance of the holiday, the church office will be closed Tuesday, November 21 – Thursday, November 23. All staff will return to the office Monday, November 27 at 9am
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America’s Thanksgiving holiday, born in the 1500s, mythologized in 1621, and observed even during the bleakest hours of the Civil War, now stands as one of the nation’s most anticipated and beloved days — celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday in November (November 23, 2023). Perhaps no other nonsectarian holiday has more tradition. Family, friends, food, and football have come to symbolize Thanksgiving — a rare celebratory holiday without an established gift-giving component. Instead, the day urges all of us to be grateful for the things we do have.
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A feast fit for a family
When we think about Thanksgiving food, a few tasty dishes come to mind. Macaroni, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and the most important of all: a beautifully cooked, juicy, and huge turkey! Though these are the traditional dishes eaten at a standard Thanksgiving dinner, there’s definitely room to freestyle. Some switch out turkey for ham, beef, or even salmon! While others may include a side dish specific to their culture.
We often wonder why dinner comes so early on this day in comparison to the rest of the year, but it seems to all come down to convenience. An earlier eating time accommodates guests who are traveling from further away, allows more time for your stomach to digest a huge meal, and lets the more sporty bunch get some exercise through a family game of football, baseball, soccer, or basketball.
Parade
Since 1924, New York has been home to the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s tied for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade with America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit. The three-hour parade is held in Manhattan and has been televised nationally by NBC since 1952. Prior to that, it was covered via radio broadcast. The parade airs early in the morning, from 9 A.M. to 12 P.M., and is how many families kick off their Thanksgiving festivities. Marching with the parade are school bands, floats with giant balloons of popular children’s characters, celebrity musicians, actors, and socialites. Broadway performers also take part by singing a popular number from their current running show.
Wishbones
Some families include breaking the turkey’s wishbone as part of their annual tradition. This happens after the meal is complete and the meat from the turkey is cleared from the bone. The wishbone, which is found attached to the breast meat within the turkey’s chest, gets set aside to dry. Once it becomes brittle, two people take ahold of either side of the bone, make a wish, and pull. Whoever breaks off the longer side gets their wish!
