Thanksgiving Day My Story
Thanksgiving Day my story it starts far from where I live today, but the feeling of gratitude remains the same.
Today, I see Thanksgiving as much more than just a holiday, because it symbolizes family, togetherness, and a moment to stop and look back.
That's why, this text is not only about American tradition, but also about personal experience that I have carried with me for years.
Besides that, Thanksgiving reminds me of the years I spent in America, the people, customs, and values that shaped me.
In the end, this ApA-Channel story brings together the emotion, memories and meaning of Thanksgiving as I still carry it in my heart today.
My personal story and emotional introduction
Although I live in Germany today, a big part of me has remained in America forever.
I spent 17 years in Chicago, to the city that shaped me, taught me new values, and instilled in my heart a special emotion for every great American holiday — and especially for Thanksgiving.
To me, Thanksgiving is not just a date on the calendar.
That's a feeling.
It's a memory.
It's the warmth of home and the smell of a large roast turkey that spread through the streets, apartments, and companies where I worked.
I remember my first years in Chicago — the fall, the yellow leaves, the cool wind off Lake Michigan, and that feeling of belonging to something big.
Every year I watched the city prepare for that day: supermarkets full of turkey, families buying groceries, streets filled with a quiet, special joy.
This is the America I carry in my heart.
History: How did it all begin?
Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving Day) is one of the oldest and most important holidays in the United States of America. The roots go back to 1621, when the settlers – Pilgrims - those living in Plymouth (present-day Massachusetts) faced a difficult, almost fatal winter. They survived only with help Wampanoag Indians, who taught them to plant corn, hunt, and navigate the new world.
To celebrate the first successful harvest, they organized a joint three-day feast event. That moment entered the folk tradition as “First Thanksgiving”.
Although several colonies later had their own thanksgiving days, this holiday becomes official only much later:
- In 1863, in the middle of the American Civil War, the president Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving Day national holiday.
- It has been celebrated ever since. every fourth Thursday in November.
From a humble harvest feast to a huge holiday – Thanksgiving today represents family, togetherness, gratitude, peace and the beginning of the holiday season.
For readers who want to explore the history of this holiday in more detail, I recommend visiting the official Wikipedia page about Thanksgiving, where everything is explained precisely and extensively. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving
What does this day mean?
Thanksgiving Day is a symbol of three great values of life:
1) Family
There is no distant city, job or obligation - Americans gather under the same roof, even traveling thousands of kilometers.
2) Gratitude
People remember what they have: health, home, friends, opportunities, and even challenges that made them stronger.
3) Sharing
It's a known fact that no one should be alone on Thanksgiving. Neighbors, communities, and businesses are coming together to help those who don't have it.
How is Thanksgiving celebrated today?
Parades and public events
The most famous is Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, which attracts millions of spectators every year. Giant balloons, music and spectacle make this event a symbol of American pop culture.
NFL games
Thanksgiving football is a tradition that Americans don't miss. Watching the game is almost as important as dinner.
Black Friday – the beginning of holiday euphoria
The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of shopping season. Black Friday brings huge discounts and becomes a global phenomenon associated with this holiday.
Why is Thanksgiving important outside of America?
Although this is an American holiday, its values are universal. Thanksgiving teaches us:
- to appreciate what we have
- let's not forget family and community
- to be aware of moments of happiness
- to share and help
- to slow down in a world that is always in a hurry
In that sense, Thanksgiving isn't a place — it's a feeling.
Traditional dishes prepared for Thanksgiving
No Thanksgiving is complete without a big, baked, golden one turkey. It is the centerpiece of the table, but the tradition also includes many other dishes:
- Baked turkey with stuffing
- cranberry sauce
- Mashed potatoes and gravy
- sweet potatoes
- Green bean casserole
- Cornbread
- Pumpkin pie or apple pie
These dishes aren't just delicious — they tell a story of history, family and community.
It's the kind of dinner after which you say: “I can't take anymore… but I still have room for another piece of pie.”
How I celebrate Thanksgiving today - gratitude without borders
Today, many years later, I live far from America, but I still celebrate Thanksgiving in my own way.
No more big parades, no big table, no 10 kilo turkey. Today it is simpler, more modest — but just as emotional.
And that's why this year I have to admit something...
I didn't eat turkey.
I didn't have time, I didn't have company for a big preparation, and I didn't want to bother the oven either.
So I ate — chicken.
And it was good, fast, nice... but not turkey.
And so I just laughed and said to myself:
„"Well, Allen, Thanksgiving is in the heart, not the turkey."”
And it really is.
What Thanksgiving means to me today
For me, Thanksgiving is:
- memory of America
- gratitude for the life I've lived
- memories that shape me
- nostalgia for people and places
- peace of mind
- beginning of the holiday season
- a reminder to appreciate what I have today
I am grateful for all that I have — the past, the present, and the opportunity to share these stories with you.
ApA-Channel message to readers
Every moment I mark with gratitude today is part of what I call Thanksgiving Day my story.
May this Thanksgiving bring peace to your homes, warmth to your relationships, and a reminder that we are only as rich as we appreciate what we already have.
I wish you a happy Thanksgiving Day, full of joy, love and warmth.
From the heart — ApA-Channel.“
Call to readers
👉 Share in the comments: What are you most grateful for today?
👉 Read other ApA-Channel lifestyle and inspirational articles https://apachannel.com/forever-omega-3-artic-sea/
This text, as Thanksgiving Day my story, combines tradition, emotion and real memories from my life in America.
