Thanksgiving is celebrated as a day of giving thanks for the harvest and the blessings of the past year, focusing on gratitude, togetherness, and sharing a meal with family and friends. The origin of Thanksgiving in the United States dates back to 1621, when early English settlers, known as Pilgrims, held a harvest feast with members of the Wampanoag Native American tribe to celebrate a successful harvest and express thankfulness for their survival and assistance from Native Americans.

Over the centuries, Thanksgiving evolved from a regional celebration to a national holiday, officially proclaimed as such by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 with an emphasis on unity and gratitude during the Civil War. Today, Thanksgiving remains centered around expressions of gratitude, festive meals (often including turkey and related dishes), parades, and time spent with loved ones.

For many Indigenous Americans, however, the day also serves as a reminder of historical losses following European colonization. Despite its complex history, the core idea of giving thanks and reflecting on life's positive aspects remains at the heart of the holiday.