It’s nearly Thanksgiving, meaning we are about to enter a whirlwind courtship with the winter holiday season! Throughout history, mankind has celebrated the bountiful harvest with thanksgiving ceremonies. Did you know that before the establishment of formal religions, many ancient farmers believed that their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and die? Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, the Chinese, and the Egyptians, long before the Mayflower landed in the New World.

So how did the massively popular North American version come about, you ask?
The earliest Thanksgiving events were held in the British Colonies, at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia in 1619 and at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. The Plymouth Pilgrims set apart a holiday immediately after their first harvest in 1621. They held an autumn celebration of food, feasting, and praising God - much like the Thanksgiving that is known and observed in our time!

Of all the Thanksgiving symbols, the Turkey has become the most well known, serving as the centerpiece of most traditional Thanksgiving meals. Stuck without a recipe? Clueless about stuffing birds? We’re here to bail you out with a pinch of holiday spirit!
Check out this video on how to properly carve your holiday bird:

If your idea of making cranberry sauce is to stop by the grocer’s to pick up a can of concentrate, now is the time to get holiday-savvy and master a fun and easy recipe for making cranberry sauce from scratch!

Of course, no turkey dish would be complete without gravy! To add that delicious finishing touch to your holiday meal, find out how you can make your own mouth-watering gravy at home! We’ve gathered some terrific recipes here and here - so knock yourselves out!

If after all that food, you still have room in your tummy for dessert, you’re in luck! Collect compliments from all your dinner guests thanks to this positively addictive pumpkin pie recipe!

Happy Thanksgiving from the 5min team!