For many people in the US, the meaning of Thanksgiving usually includes feasting, four-day weekends, football games, floats, family reunions, or a forerunner to Christmas festivities. The “first Thanksgiving,” however, was neither a feast nor a holiday, but a simple gathering between the surviving Pilgrim colonists and the native Americans as they survived a harsh winter the and yielded a bountiful harvest in 1621. In celebration, a traditional English harvest festival, lasting three days brought the Pilgrims and natives to unite in a “thanksgiving” observance. “Thanksgiving” was not celebrated regularly again until Congress sanctioned it as a legal holiday on the third Thursday in November in 1941.
The meaning of Thanksgiving has undergone numerous transitions — an expression of gratitude for survival, a council’s recognition of its flourishing community, submission of the local natives, the defeat over the British, resulting in a collection of our nation’s traditions and values. Over the centuries, families added their customs to the Thanksgiving celebration, preserving what they held most precious.
The most common traditions include:
To gather in unity – It is refreshing and invigorating when people come together, in celebration of a common purpose. It is a reconciliation of differences as well as a time of healing. In sharing our victories as well as our struggles, we find strength and hope.
To teach the young – In stories retold, each generation brings purpose and significance to the richness of their heritage. Faded pictures, sentimental knick-knacks, even the prayer of Thanksgiving before the meal all form a Thanksgiving family legacy.
To prepare the heart – In gratitude, we humbly reflect upon all the gifts (family, friends, health) that saturate our lives. By “giving-thanks” we choose to extend ourselves and give to others less fortunate. Out of the abundance of our hearts, we are able to offer our resources to help others.
At WITTI, we are thankful for the support and kind words we have received from our customers and our partners. We wouldn’t be here without you today. We truly value each and every one of you so thank you in helping make our dreams a reality. Please join us is giving thanks to someone that has made an impact in your life this year. You would be surprised how far a simple thank you and a smile can go.
Kwa watu wengi nchini Marekani, maana ya Shukrani kwa kawaida inajumuisha karamu, miisho-juma ya siku nne, michezo ya mpira wa miguu, kuendesha, makusanyiko ya familia, au mtangulizi wa sherehe za Krismasi. Siku ya kwanza ya Shukrani haikuwa sikukuu, bali ilikuwa mkutano wa wakoloni wa Pilgrim na Wamarekani wa asili waliopona wakati wa majira ya baridi kali na walipata mavuno mengi mnamo 1621. Katika sherehe, sherehe ya jadi ya mavuno ya Kiingereza, iliyodumu siku tatu iliwaleta Wahamiaji na wenyeji kuungana katika sherehe ya "shukrani". Siku ya Shukrani haikujulikana tena hadi Congress ilipoiidhinisha kama sikukuu ya kisheria siku ya Alhamisi ya tatu ya Novemba 1941. Maana ya Shukrani imepitia mabadiliko mengi - usemi wa shukrani kwa kuishi, utambuzi wa baraza la jamii yake inayositawi, kuwasilisha wenyeji wa eneo hilo, kushindwa kwa Waingereza, na kusababisha mkusanyiko wa mila na maadili ya taifa letu. Kwa karne nyingi, familia ziliongeza desturi zao kwenye sherehe ya Shukrani, zikihifadhi kile walichokithamini zaidi. Mapokeo ya kawaida ni pamoja na: Kukusanyika katika umoja <unk> Ni refreshing na invigorating wakati watu kuja pamoja, katika sherehe ya kusudi la kawaida. Ni wakati wa kupatanisha tofauti na pia wa uponyaji. Katika kushiriki ushindi wetu na pia mapambano yetu, tunapata nguvu na matumaini. Kufundisha vijana <unk> Katika hadithi zinazosimuliwa tena, kila kizazi huleta kusudi na umuhimu kwa utajiri wa urithi wao. Picha zilizopungua, vitu vya kipekee vya kihisia-moyo, hata sala ya Shukrani kabla ya mlo wote huunda urithi wa familia ya Shukrani. Ili kutayarisha moyo <unk> Kwa shukrani, kwa unyenyekevu tunafikiria zawadi zote (familia, marafiki, afya) ambazo hujaza maisha yetu. Kwa "kutoa shukrani" tunachagua kujiongezea na kuwapa wengine wasio na bahati. Kwa sababu ya wingi wa moyo wetu, tunaweza kutoa mali zetu kuwasaidia wengine. Katika WITTI, tunashukuru kwa msaada na maneno mazuri ambayo tumepokea kutoka kwa wateja wetu na washirika wetu. Hatungekuwa hapa leo bila wewe. Tunathamini kila mmoja wenu, kwa hivyo tunashukuru kwa kusaidia kufanya ndoto zetu kuwa ukweli. "Tafadhali jiunge nasi ni kutoa shukrani kwa mtu ambaye amefanya athari katika maisha yako mwaka huu. """ Utashangaa jinsi shukrani rahisi na tabasamu vinavyoweza kufika mbali.