01

of 16

Grateful for Everything

"What if today, we were just grateful for everything?"

—Charlie Brown

02

of 16

Grateful for the Long Term

"I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual."

—Henry David Thoreau

03

of 16

Grateful for the Moment

"Be present in all things and thankful for all."

—Maya Angelou

04

of 16

Grateful for Abundance

"It's not too much food. This is what we've been training for our whole lives. This is our destiny; this is our finest hour."

—Lorelai Gilmore

05

of 16

Grateful for the Lessons

"Even in the trials of life, if we have eyes to see them, we can find good things everywhere we look."

—Joanna Gaines

06

of 16

Grateful for the Meal

"The turkey. The sweet potatoes. The stuffing. The pumpkin pie. Is there anything else we all can agree so vehemently about? I don't think so."

—Nora Ephron

24 Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Impress Guests

07

of 16

Grateful for Good Fortune

"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."

—Charles Dickens

08

of 16

Grateful for Gratitude

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more."

—Oprah Winfrey

09

of 16

Grateful for Each Day

"Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have."

—Catherine Pulsifer

10

of 16

Grateful for People

"We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives."

—John F. Kennedy

11

of 16

Grateful for Joy

"Thankfulness is the quickest path to joy."

—Jefferson Bethke

12

of 16

Grateful for Little Things

"Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year because it reminds us to give thanks and to count our blessings. Suddenly, so many things become so little when we realize how blessed and lucky we are."

—Joyce Giraud

13

of 16

Grateful for Happiness

"Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast."

—William Shakespeare

14

of 16

Grateful for What Is

"Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is."

—Ernest Hemingway

15

of 16

Grateful to Share

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."

—William Arthur Ward

16

of 16

Grateful for It All

"All across America, we gather this week with the people we love to give thanks to God for the blessings in our lives."

— George W. Bush

A Foolproof Guide to Hosting Friendsgiving

Frequently Asked Questions

• When was the first Thanksgiving celebration?
• Some people think of the first Thanksgiving as the three-day harvest celebration in 1621 that included English colonists in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the Wampanoag people.1 But the Wampanoag had been celebrating the harvest with seasonal traditions for generations before European settlers arrived.2
• How have Thanksgiving traditions evolved over the years?
• Thanksgiving Day rituals have been influenced by Native Americans, the Pilgrims, and others.3 At times, the holiday has taken on a religious tone. In 1789, President George Washington called for a “day of public thanksgiving and prayer.” The holiday has expanded to a general day of thanks for some, and for others, it's simply a time for loved ones to gather and share seasonal foods.
• What are other ways to give thanks on the holiday?
• You can mark Thanksgiving by volunteering to serve meals at a shelter or donating food to an organization that helps people who are experiencing food insecurity. You could invite someone who might be alone on the big day to join your celebration and bring a favorite Thanksgiving quote to share.