The holiday I chose to discuss is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a holiday that has its origins in North America circa 1621 when Wampanoag Indians shared a Harvest Feast with the colonists of Plymouth. The holiday was continued throughout the years until it was declared an official holiday by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. (Staff) This holiday is generally celebrated by people who live in North America. These people generally span across a wide range of cultures, and the actual celebration may vary from family to family. A Thanksgiving Day celebration normally consists of a group of family or friends, or mix of both who gather together for a large dinner and companionship. One custom people follow is gathering together. Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate and spend time with your loved ones, whomever they may be. Another custom is the president’s annual turkey pardon, where he “pardons” one or two turkeys from becoming a Thanksgiving meal. The Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade is also a customary tradition. It runs in New York and is broadcasted live on National Television every year. One custom that is celebrated by about 90% of Americans is the cooking of a large Turkey as the main dish for the celebratory meal.(Staff) The cultural traditions for this Holiday have evolved over time and will most likely continue to evolve throughout the years so I do not believe that a change impacts the holiday or traditions negatively. The most important entrée served at the Thanksgiving meal is the turkey. The Turkey is the national bird of North America and became tradition when the Wampanoag’s gifted one to the Plymouth colonists during the first Thanksgiving. (Staff) To safely prepare a turkey, one must ensure that they have clean hands when handling the raw bird. They also must ensure that any surface the bird touches before going into the oven is properly sanitized before and after to avoid contamination. Whoever is preparing the bird must ensure that it is cooked to the appropriate temperature before serving to ensure safety from food Bourne illness, and any leftovers must be stored in a proper contained in the refrigerator.

Staff. (2009, January 1). History of Thanksgiving. Retrieved January 29, 2015, from http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving