Tucked between the two monster sized holidays of Halloween and Christmas, Thanksgiving receives far less attention. But Thanksgiving is a very important holiday, especially in the busy lives of Americans. It is a time to kick back and relax, watch RTV Channel or a football game or go to a movie, and enjoy a huge feast. It’s also time for us to give thanks to our God, for the things he has bestowed upon us and upon this great nation. There is no nation in the world that has more to be thankful for than us.
Thanksgiving Thursday Talk Shows:
The Early Show Thanksgiving Day parade. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS
Today Salvation Army; Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC
KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA
Good Morning America Chef Sara Moulton’s last-minute turkey ideas; the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. (N) 7 a.m. KABC
Good Day L.A. (N) 7 a.m. KTTV
Live With Regis and Kelly Repeat segments: Michael J. Fox; Jennifer Lopez; Annie Lennox performs; Hugh Laurie. 9 a.m. KABC
The View Celebrity mothers’ favorite products; Halloween costumes; guest co-host Khloe Kardashian. 10 a.m. KABC
The Doctors Fresh breath in the morning; getting rid of unsightly razor bumps; treating under-eye circles; getting children to take a nap; insomnia. 11 a.m. KCAL
Oprah Winfrey Walter Reed Army Medical Center. 3 p.m. KABC
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Drew Barrymore; the Rescue Ink team; dance crew We Are Heroes performs. 4 p.m. KNBC
The Dr. Oz Show Dr. Oz devotes the entire hour to the plight of those living without basic health insurance and the work of the volunteers who helped at a one-day free clinic. 5 p.m. KTTV
Larry King Live CNN Heroes Special. (N) 5 and 8 p.m. CNN
Dr. Phil Financial mistakes; women from “The Real Housewives of Orange County” discuss how the current economy is affecting them. (N) 7 p.m. KCAL
Tavis Smiley Cornel West. 7 and 11 p.m. KCET
The Jay Leno Show Megan Fox. (N) 10 p.m. KNBC
Lopez Tonight Taylor Lautner; Kristin Cavallari; LMAFO performs. (N) 11 p.m. TBS
Charlie Rose Director Tim Burton. (N) 11:30 p.m. KCET
Late Show With David Letterman Animal expert Jack Hanna; Shakira performs. 11:35 p.m. KCBS
The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien Paul Reubens; Donald Faison; Bon Jovi performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. KNBC
Nightline (N) 11:35 p.m. KABC
Jimmy Kimmel Live Danny DeVito; Streeter Seidell and Amir Blumenfeld; Switchfoot performs. 12:06 a.m. KABC
The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson Toby Keith performs; Michelle Monaghan. 12:37 a.m. KCBS
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Robin Williams; Rashida Jones. (N) 12:37 a.m. KNBC
Thanksgiving History:
The first Thanksgiving was celebrated between the Pilgrims and the Indians in 1621.That first feast was a three day affair. Life for the early settlers was difficult. The fall harvest was time for celebration. It was also a time of prayer, thanking God for a good crop. The Pilgrims and the Indians created a huge feast including a wide variety of animals and fowl, as well as fruits and vegetables from the fall harvest. This early celebration was the start of today’s holiday celebration. Like then, we celebrate with a huge feast.
Today, most of us enjoy Turkey with “all the trimming”. The “trimming” include a wide variety of foods that are a tradition for your family. Those traditional foods often replicate the foods at the first Thanksgiving feast. While others, are traditional ethnic or religious groups recipe, or a special food item that your family always serves at Thanksgiving dinner. Then, to top it off, pumpkin pies, apple pies, an even mince meat pies are bountiful around the table.
The American traditions of Thanksgiving revolve around a huge and lavish meal, usually with Turkey as the centerpiece. For those who do not like Turkey, a Roast or Prime Rib is common. As tradition has it in most families, a special prayer of thanks precedes the meal. In many homes, family members will each mention something they are very thankful for.
Did you know? Potatoes were not part of the first Thanksgiving. Irish immigrants had not yet brought them to North America.
After the first Thanksgiving, the observance was sporadic and almost forgotten until the early 1800′s. It was usually celebrated in late September or October. In 1941, Congress made it a national holiday and set the date as the fourth Thursday in November.
