Fourth Thursday in November is celebrated as ‘Thanksgiving Day’ People thank God for his blessings. People can ‘Thank’ friends, foes and anyone for the experiences, happiness and sunshine they bring into their lives. Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day in America during the second winter in the new world. The first winter had been bad as nearly half of the people had perished due to lack of food and bad weather. But the following year, with the help of Indians who showed them how to plant Indian corn, the pilgrims had successful harvest. Governor William Bradford decided that December 13, 1621 be set aside for feasting and prayer. The Indians were invited to share the festival. Since than, Thanksgiving Day is been celebrated in America. However, it was only in 1941, the Congress in a joint resolution named the fourth Sunday in November as the official Thanksgiving Day.

Dating back, it is known that the Council thought to appoint and set apart the 29th day of June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for his Goodness and Favor. The First Thanksgiving Proclamation was however on June 20, 1676. The governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community securely established. By unanimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving, It is also known that the Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast -- including 91 Indians who had helped the Pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the Pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the natives The feast was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days.

Thanksgiving Day in India - In India, people do not celebrate Thanksgiving Day. However, here's a site with info on Thanksgiving Day in India. Christians in Goa celebrate the festival!

Another Interesting site is Thanksgiving in India 2006 - Unity Day

Next Thanksgiving Date : Thursday, November 27, 2008

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WATCH THE THANKSGIVING VIDEO

International Vegetarian Day-Meatless Day

Go-vegetarianism -  all 365 days.  Gandhiji has been the Mascot followed by Sadhu Vasvani (25th Nov also Non-Veg Day) for Vegetarianism. Gandhiji's ideology of khadi, vegetarianism and the natural way of life is observed in many parts of India.  Gandhiji has said "Take the food as medicine and not in order to gratify the palate. Keep mind and body fully engaged in acts of service. Meditate on God as ‘Truth’. It is necessary to keep healthy. Eating meat itself brings out evil thoughts in human beings which make him violent and destructive. The proverb is rightly said "What you think, you cook and what you cook, you eat and what you eat, accordingly, thoughts flash in your mind" So, Check it out! Avoid flesh, avoid fish, and avoid all such non-veg dish!

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