Thanksgiving: history, traditions and an autumn table

Thanksgiving is one of the warmest family holidays in the USA and Canada — a time to gather around a big table and give thanks for the year. It is not an official holiday in Ukraine, but the idea of thanking the people close to us resonates with everyone. Here is the holiday’s history, its traditions and how to decorate an autumn table with flowers.

Autumn arrangements: flower baskets and chrysanthemums.

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History and dates

• Tradition links the holiday to the autumn feast shared by colonists and Native people at Plymouth in 1621.
• In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in the United States.
• Today the USA celebrates it on the fourth Thursday of November and Canada on the second Monday of October.

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Traditions

• A family dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
• Everyone at the table shares what they are grateful for.
• Parades, such as the famous Macy’s parade in New York, and American football on TV.

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Decorating the table with flowers

• A low centrepiece of chrysanthemums, sunflowers and dahlias in warm tones.
• Wheat ears, berry branches and mini pumpkins.
• A cornucopia of fruit and flowers — the traditional harvest symbol.
• Candles in stable holders, well away from dry wheat.

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For autumn arrangement ideas see Pumpkin flower arrangements and Autumn bouquets, and for American flower customs see US flower traditions.

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Saying thank you with flowers

Even if you do not celebrate it, autumn is a good excuse to thank a teacher, doctor, colleague or loved one with a small bouquet and a card with a few warm words.

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FAQ

Is Thanksgiving celebrated in Ukraine?

Not officially, but it is marked at American companies and among people connected with the USA and Canada.

Which flowers suit the holiday table?

Warm-toned autumn flowers — chrysanthemums, sunflowers, dahlias, gerberas — with wheat and berries.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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