by Diana W
http://www.giftbasketforall.com

Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival.  Traditionally, it is time to give thanks for the harvest and express our gratitude.  It is a holiday celebrated primarily in Canada and the United States.  In the U.S., this holiday is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in the month of November.  In Canada, it is celebrated on the second Monday of October. This article explores the origin of Thanksgiving and provides ideas for Thanksgiving gift.

The earliest attested Thanksgiving celebration was held by the Spanish settlers on September 8, 1565 in what is now St. Augustine, Florida.  However, the traditional fist Thanksgiving is generally considered as having occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621. 102 pilgrims fled religious persecution in England, crossed the Atlantic in the sailing vessel Mayflower. After a difficult journey at sea, the pilgrims arrived in Plymouth on December 11th, 1620.  Although nearly half of the pilgrims died that winter due to the extreme cold weather, the native Indians helped the pilgrims survive by teaching them how to grow corn, beans and pumpkins. In the summer of 1621, owing to a severe drought, pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer to please God and ask for a bountiful harvest in the coming season. God answereed their prayers and it rained at the end of the day. It saved the corn crops.

In the autumn of 1621, the Pilgrims held a grand celebration to give thanks to God and the Native Americans.  This communal dinner is popularly known as "The first thanksgiving feast".  The food included ducks, geese, venison, fish, berries, and boiled pumpkin. However, it was not until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national Thanksgiving Day, prompted by a series of editorials written by Sarah Josepha Hale.  In 1941, the U.S. Congress officially passed a bill requiring Thanksgiving be observed on the fourth Thursday of November.   

Most Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends at home for a holiday feast. However, if you cannot visit family or friends who live far away, you can send them a Thanksgiving gift to show you care. Businesses can also send fall corporate gifts to their clients. Popular Thanksgiving gifts include the following:

1. Cornucopia:

In North America, the cornucopia is associated with Thanksgiving and the harvest.  The cornucopia is a symbol of food and abundance, and is often known as the "horn of plenty". In Greek mythology, Amalthea was a goat who raised Zeus on her breast milk. Her horn was accidentally broken off by Zeus while playing together.  The god Zeus, in remorse, gave back her horn with supernatural powers, which would give the person in poession whatever he or she wished for. The original depiction of cornucopia was a goat's horn filled with fruits and flowers. In modern depictions, the cornucopia is typically a hollow, horn-shaped wicker basket filled with various kinds of festive fruit and vegetables.

A great way to send your best wishes to friends and loved ones is to send an Autumn Cornucopia. It is filled with assorted Maple leaves, a wide range of flavored individually wrapped hard candies, mini pinecones, pumpkins and gourds in a cone shaped wicker basket. The gift can be used as a center piece for the Thanksgiving dinner table, and everyone can enjoy the candies.  

2. Thanksgiving Gift BasketS;

You can also send a Thanksgiving gourmet gift basket filled With sparkling apple cider, Cheddar cheese, summer sausage, rye bread, grained mustard, gourmet coffee, Cheddar Cheese popcorn, Tavolare snack mix, chocolate cream filled pastry cookie, and assorted cream chocolates. This gift will certainly provide a feast for your friends and family. 

Another popular gift basket, the Harvest Blessings Gourmet Fall Gift Basket, is filled with vanilla cream cookies, creamy garden herb and vegetable dip, smoked almonds, caramel corn, Stone wheat crackers, French chocolates, Pilgrims Harvest corn & pumpkin, cafe latte mocha mix, and unique "Thankful" fall candy corn mix.  The harvest basket says it all with its decorative "Thankful" message.  The delicious fall treats will delight and please whoever receive it.

3. Autumn Harvest Basket:

These colorful festive Autumn harvest baskets deliver bountiful harvest. One popular Autumn basket is filled with packages of Garden Veggies shaped pasta and a seasonal Sunflower bowl, a scarecrow bag filled with Peanut Delight, a yellow Chocolate Scarecrow lollipop, Vanilla cream cookies, Bellagio Caffe caramella and Caffe Francaise. Also included are White chocolate macadamia nut cookies, Peanut butter pretzel nuggets, a golden bag of chocolate bridge mix, focaccia snacks and an adorable floating pumpkin candle. Another beautiful Autumn bushel basket is filled to overflowing with the delicious tastes of creamy walnut fudge, chocolate chip biscotti, cinnamon caramel corn, shortbread cookies, garlic and onion pretzels, sweet and salty snack mix, and harvest gourmet coffee. This basket is a delicious way to welcome fall!

4.  Fall Gift Basket:

Fall gift baskets are often decorated with adorable scarecrows and pumpkin cookies.  A popular basket that you will fall in love with contains an adorable fall scarecrow bear and is filled with New York Cheesecake, Jordan Almonds, Chocolate Covered Oreo Pumpkin Cookies, Fall Festival Cookies, Small Pleasures Green Tea, Butter Toffee Pretzels, Shortbread Collection and Autumn Delights Yogurt Pretzels drizzled with orange and dark chocolate. This basket is sure to put a smile on anyones face. Another fall basket is filled to overflowing with all the delicious tastes of fall, including lemon cookies, fall harvest snack mix, wheat crackers, French herb dip mix, barbeque chips, buttery pretzels, caramel corn, this whimsical fall basket will spread joy and fun wherever it is delivered. The festive fall scarecrow in the basket will send your heartfelt sentiments along with these delicious tasty treats.

5. Pumpkin Patch Container Garden:

Alternatively, you can send an all in one Gigantic Pumpkin Patch Garden that contains easy-grow pumpkin seeds, nutrients, soil and a Pumpkin designed leak resistant container. The recipient Just has to plant, water and grow  all in the container it came in. It is so easy and great for anyone who enjoys pumpkins.

In summary, Thanksgiving holiday is the time to give thanks for our blessings and express our gratitude. You can celebrate the holiday by sending a Thanksgiving gift basket, autumn cornucopia, fall gift basket, or a pumpkin patch container garden to friends and loved ones.