As soon as October comes around with Halloween, everyone is more aware that it’s the holiday season. November is National Gratitude Month and is most known for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the holiday most focused on in November. Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful and the readiness to show appreciation and return kindness.

What Is The History Of Thanksgiving?

The “First Thanksgiving” as many folks understand it was between the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag tribe which occurred in 1621 in present-day Massachusetts. They shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For over two centuries, the days of Thanksgiving were celebrated by individual states and colonies. Amid the Civil War is when President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving Day to be a national holiday to be held each November in 1863.

What Are Some Thanksgiving Traditions?

In numerous American households, the Thanksgiving celebration has shifted from its original religious significance, and now centers on the idea of sharing an abundant feast with friends and family, and ultimately cooking. According to the National Turkey Federation, today, nearly 90% of Americans eat the bird, whether it is baked, deep-fried, or roasted. The traditional foods that typically accompany it are mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and stuffing.

Communities often hold food drives on this day, hosting free dinners for those who are less fortunate. Volunteering has become known as a common Thanksgiving activity. We can’t forget the infamous Macy’s Day Parade presented in New York since 1924, attracting 2-3 million spectators via television audience or the 2.5-mile route.

It has certainly become an integral part of Thanksgiving as performers, marching bands, and elaborate floats conveying giant balloons shaped like cartoon characters and numerous celebrities emerge in spirit.

So whether you’re spending time with loved ones, giving back, or working hard, make sure to sit back and reflect on your life and all of your reasons to be thankful.

What Are Some Unexpected Statistics About Thanksgiving?

Arguably, Thanksgiving is the biggest food-centered holiday of the entire year. As the country begins to prepare for a second Thanksgiving holiday despite the continuing pandemic, everyone is bracing themselves for more unpredictability. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding what will be available for purchase at the grocery stores, and what the prices will be.

For starters, with Thanksgiving falling on the fourth Thursday of November, and this holiday involves the single busiest travel day of the year. As the turkey is known as the signature food for the holiday, 50% of all the whole bird turkeys that are sold in the US are consumed in a single day on Thanksgiving. Due to the pandemic, there is an estimated 58.63% of Thanksgiving travel respondents are planning on staying close to home for the holidays.

What Are Some Reasons To Be Thankful?

1. Gratitude is able to rewire your brain.
2. There is a floor beneath your feet and a roof over your head.
3. Family and friends bring life meaning.
4. Can’t forget about our furry friends.
5. The air you breathe and good health.
6. Holiday traditions and food.
7. You deserve time to be able to relax.
8. There are so many beautiful things in life.
9. Don’t forget to be thankful for yourself.

Are you looking for a way to enhance your social media during the holidays? #Thanksgivingtree is currently trending on Instagram, with over 4000 posts, so put up your tree early!

What The Digital Intellect Is Grateful For This Thanksgiving

As we prepare for our holiday parties and events coming up, we decided to ask some of our content team what is their favorite part of the Thanksgiving holiday, what is their favorite Thanksgiving dish, and what are they the most grateful for? They responded with the following:

Director Of Content Marketing: Martina Lynn

Our Director of Content Marketing, Martina Lynn answered:

1. I enjoy cooking, I never do it much anymore because I don’t have a lot of time. Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to relax, spend time with family doing something I love.
2. All of them lol – probably mashed potatoes. I enjoy mashed potatoes.
3. I don’t know that I’m most grateful for just one thing. I feel really lucky and blessed to have a wonderful, healthy family. I also feel grateful to have a career and job that I love with amazing people that inspire me daily!

Content Marketing Manager: Olivia Feldman

Our Content Marketing Manager, Olivia Feldman answered:

1. My favorite part of Thanksgiving is spending quality time with my family. Also, eating way too much good food!
2. It’s a tie between my mom’s pumpkin cheesecake and my grandma’s stuffing.
3. I am grateful for family and friends who support and encourage me, the ability to live at home while I financially prepare for my future, and a job with an awesome company culture that helps me learn and grow!

 SEO Manager: Rebecah Duff

 

Our SEO Manager, Becah Duff answered:

 

1. My favorite part of the Thanksgiving holiday is spending time with my family. We always hang out and eat way too much. But, we just love blocking out that time to have a little mini-vacation every year.
2. My favorite Thanksgiving dish is probably sweet potato casserole. My family makes it with a pecan crust rather than marshmallows!
3. I’m most grateful for my family’s health. I’m aware that far too many families suffered losses in the last 1.5 years due to COVID and violence. I don’t take my family’s well-being for granted.

Social Media & Content Manager: Stephanie Meadows

Our Social Media & Content Manager, Stephanie Meadows answered:

1. I believe my favorite part of Thanksgiving is what the holiday represents. It’s not only a time to gather with family and/or friends, but to think about what you’re thankful for. Especially these last 2 years dealing with COVID, has made me thankful for what I have in my life. This year I will be thinking a lot about expressing gratitude and trying my best to be present with those I love including my family and co-workers who have also become some of my good friends, and truly a second family.
2.  OOOOO for me I love food, so this is a difficult one hahaha. I would have to say mashed sweet potato, which has candied nuts and hints of cinnamon and other spices. The orange color, smell, and taste just scream Thanksgiving! Of course, I love turkey, but my other favorite would have to be stuffing and my mom’s homemade chicken soup, to die for! 🙂
3. I don’t want to sound cliche, but this year especially I am grateful for just being alive, for what I have, and the opportunities I have been given and worked hard for. I have been through a lot this year, but I reflect and think maybe not as bad as some others have. While COVID-19 has wreaked havoc for many, I am happy and grateful for seeing the resilience of the people around me. I am thankful for my ability to reflect on myself, what I am proud of and what I can do better. I have grown closer with members of my work family this year.  I am grateful to have a job, one that fosters an amazing company culture. Also, I am thankful for those friendships and employers who care about my personal and professional growth. I am thankful to have a roof over my head, but most importantly, I am thankful to have the resources to give back to those who need it, and also spend time with those I love.

Multimedia Specialist: Brian Morales

Our Multimedia Specialist, Brian Morales answered:

1. My favorite part of the Thanksgiving holiday is definitely seeing family members and friends that I don’t normally get to see. My older brother is coming into town this month for Thanksgiving and I’m very excited about that because I only see him once in a blue moon (he lives up north).
2. Love this question haha, I am a huge fan of anything potato, so I’d say homemade mashed potatoes with lots of butter and seasoning!
3. I am most grateful for my family, lucky to have such a caring and supportive family unit no matter what. I am also really grateful to work at a place like TDI, with such an amazing culture and team.

Content Writer/Developer, Daphne Renelus

Our Content Writer/Developer, Daphne Renelus answered:

1. My favorite part of the Thanksgiving holiday is spending time with family.
2. Although not a traditional Thanksgiving dish, my favorite thing to eat at my family’s Thanksgiving is one of my favorite foods in general, lasagna.
3. I’m most thankful for having a strong family support system that I feel safe with and that I can always turn to when life gets hard because not everyone has that.

Content Writer & Manager: Robert Lentz

Our Content Writer & Manager, Robert Lentz, answered:

1. Love spending time with my family. Other than that, I love Florida weather around this time.
2. Green bean or corn casserole
3. My family and my band

Content Writer, Scham Solamon

Our Content Writer, Scham Solamon, answered:

1. My favorite part of the Thanksgiving holiday is how gratitude is highlighted.
2. Meeting up with friends or family over a meal is usually a great time. The present moment can’t be replicated.
3. Sweet Potato, whether it’s mashed or baked. The natural sweetness is pleasurable. It goes great with other dishes, in my opinion.
4. I’m most grateful for my loved ones and my ability to express myself through different mediums. Living in an age of technological advancement.

We Wish You A Very Happy Thanksgiving!

I’d like to end this blog with the same questions I asked the content team, what is your favorite part of the Thanksgiving holiday? What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish? Lastly, what are you the most grateful for? Make sure to soak in this holiday season and new year with gratitude! What Are You Thankful For This Thanksgiving? Happy Holidays from all of us here at The Digital Intellect!

References:

https://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving

https://www.dosomething.org/us/articles/truthsgiving-the-true-history-of-thanksgiving

https://financebuzz.com/thanksgiving-data

https://www.lifecoreflooring.com/reasons-to-be-thankful-this-thanksgiving/