Thanksgiving The British VersionA Festival of Gratitude

 Thanksgiving — The British VersionA Festival of Gratitude

Thanksgiving, a revered holiday celebrated in the main part of America and Canada is that time for everyone to say thank you. Admittedly less of a tradition in the UK, but it's quite a lovely idea and should resonate with most people across any culture. We get ask the origins of this aspect and how it fits in with us as British people.

A Brief History

Thanksgiving began with the Pilgrims, who came to North America in 1620. The English Pilgrims survived a severe winter and celebrated the bountiful harvest with the Native American Wampanoag tribe. Over the centuries, this shared meal morphed into a tradition and ultimately led to the Thanksgiving we know today.

The Essence of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a fundamentally grateful holiday. It is a time of thankful reflection and where we focus on the good in our lives, loved ones and blessings. Even when you feel like life is terrible, chances are that if there's nothing else to be grateful for, at least your friends and family are healthy or you can afford a meal.

A Very British Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is not a British holiday, but it can always be celebrated in spirit. Here are a few ideas:

Have a Thanksgiving-Inspired DinnerOne way to celebrate the Fourth of July is by hosting your friends and family over for an all-American feast that's reminiscent of classic Turkey Day snacking: roasted turkey dinner with stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie—it can still be patriotic if you change Thanksgiving colors from orange and brown (don't forget canned yams!) to red, white and blue. Serve Yorkshire pudding or roast potatoes on the side for a British version of these delicious dishes.

Walking the walk in your community: Volunteering to help others helps us feel grateful. Help those in need by volunteering at a local food bank, animal shelter or nursing home.

Write thank you letters — Write a short handwritten note to some important people in your life who have supported and made an influence on it. Sometimes simply telling them how you feel could mean the world to those that made small sacrifices and big ones too.

Practice gratitude and practice mindfulness: Encourage regular thankfulness techniques such as meditation or writing a diary to sustain your levels of appreciation.

Deck your home out:to get the best autumn vibes in fall, there's no better way than to decorate with some seasonal decor!like pumpkins, leaves, and candles.

The Importance of Gratitude

Both physically and psychologically, showing gratitude is good for you. Gratitude has been shown to lower levels of stress, aid sleep (this one is especially important) help with mood and even increase your sisterly love. When we can take the time to see, even on a surface level that at least some things in life are good then this provides us with more positivity and hope for our future.

Conclusion

To coincide with this, Thanksgiving is a wonderful festival reminding us to focus on the things in life which are going well. Although its not a typical British holiday, the support and black friday gifts offers attitude is something which transcends all divides. Additionally, to your advantage I shared here a little bit about how Thanksgiving traditions can help you feel the thankfulness and goodness better. Cheers to holiday spirit!It's the most grateful time of year.