IN GRATITUDE WE GATHER- THANKSGIVING 2025

The American tradition of Thanksgiving began as a modest harvest feast in the mid-17th Century; celebrated on the last Thursday of November, it is one of the most loved of American traditions (although it is celebrated in Canada, too and many European countries).

In November 1621, the English Pilgrims at Plymouth sat down with the Wampanoag people for a three-day harvest celebration that marked a year of barely surviving their first, meagre harvest. The celebration would be rechristened Thanksgiving in the centuries to follow, celebrating the bounty of Nature, and in modern times, gratitude for family, and being able to gather with loved ones for the holiday.

For the next two centuries, individual colonies and later states across the colonies held their own days of thanksgiving whenever leaders felt the need to mark a collective sense of relief, whether recognising the end of wars, restoration of power following storms, droughts, or simply miracles. But the idea of one national Thanksgiving is owed entirely to one woman, writer Sarah Josepha Hale, who spent decades advocating for United States presidents to make Thanksgiving a nationwide holiday for Americans to come together.

TRADITION OF “PARDONING” THE TURKEY

By the mid-twentieth century, the tradition grew feathers. In 1947, the National Turkey Federation made the turkey an annual gift to the president, which came with cameras and a ceremony. These first turkeys were photogenic—if not lucky. Most turkeys went immediately from the South Lawn to supper.

The annual Turkey Pardon is a tradition which typically takes place on the South Lawn of the White House in late November, just before Thanksgiving. In 2024, for example, President Biden pardoned two turkeys on November 25. Attendance is limited — in 2024, around 2,500 people gathered — so for media coverage, one usually requires White House press credentials and planning through the press office.

In its own feathered way, the Turkey Pardon captures the essence of Thanksgiving: a break from any manner of strife-personal or professional or political, a recognition of abundance, and one day a year to remind us that even in the most powerful seat in the world, there is time for—if only briefly—kindness, comedy, and a turkey to bear the weight of the sins of the world!

THE DALLAS COWBOYS’ THANKSGIVING LEGACY

The Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving game will take place on November 27, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Fans can attend by purchasing tickets through the Cowboys’ official website or verified NFL ticketing partners, though seats often sell out months in advance. The stadium is located halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth and is easily reachable via rideshare, car, or shuttle services operating from major hotels across the metroplex. For many fans travelling in, the journey is part of the tradition—thousands fly into DFW Airport each year just to be part of one of America’s most electrifying holiday events.

This year’s lineup is nothing short of cinematic. Expect 16 giant helium balloons drifting like colourful cloud kingdoms above the cheering crowds and 28 floats rolling in full festive glory—including eight brand-new additions. One of them? A float designed by a Detroit fifth grader, proof that this parade doesn’t just celebrate the community—it lifts it, literally, onto wheels and into the national spotlight.

One of the most touching sides of the Thanksgiving in Dallas tradition is its charity aspect. The Cowboys have been collaborating with the Salvation Army since 1997 to launch the well-known Red Kettle Campaign during the halftime of the Thanksgiving game. This initiative has contributed nearly $3 billion towards food programmes, housing, disaster relief, and services for families in need over the years.

DETROIT’S DAZZLING THANKSGIVING TRADITION

If there’s one place where Thanksgiving morning feels like a technicolour dream, it’s Detroit’s Woodward Avenue. America’s Thanksgiving Parade—one of the longest and most beloved holiday festivities in the country—has been attracting spectators since 1924, and the 99th edition of this year’s parade will be even more spectacular with the promise of being the biggest and brightest and loaded with joy.

2025: A Giant-Sized Spectacle

Stretching nearly three miles down Woodward Avenue, the 2025 parade charts a scenic route past Detroit’s architectural icons: the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park, and finally the glowing winter charm of Campus Martius Park. The show kicks off sharply at 8:45 a.m., and Detroiters know better than to underestimate the crowds: hundreds of thousands line the streets, and millions more tune in from 185 U.S. cities.

For parade-goers craving the VIP treatment, grandstand seating offers the ultimate elevated experience—though blink, and you’ll miss your chance because these coveted seats sell out faster than Santa can say “Merry Christmas!”