Thanksgiving Day

November 24, 2005

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Profile America — Thursday, November 24th. This is Thanksgiving Day, one of the most traditional of American holidays, usually traced to 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The holiday became national in scope in 1863, and the fourth Thursday of the month has been the official day since 1941. It’s a time which combines solemnity and joy — a time for family gatherings and the sharing of a special meal, typically turkey with all the trimmings. Each year, U.S. farmers raise nearly 260-million turkeys, with Minnesota and North Carolina the leading states. North Carolina is also the leading producer of sweet potatoes. And among states growing cranberries, Wisconsin harvests twice as much as the next state, Massachusetts. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2005, p. 596
U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Featues, CB05-FF.18
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/005712.html