United States is celebrating Thanks giving day, an event that is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.
Thanksgiving is a public holiday in the US that began as a harvest festival.
The American holiday is meant to bring people together.
During exchanges such as International Visitor Leadership Program, American families welcome international visitors into their homes and get to know each other over a meal.
#Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday that brings people together. During exchanges such as @StateIVLP, American families welcome international visitors into their homes and get to know each other over a meal. Find out how you can become involved: https://t.co/zoOcI2kVOV pic.twitter.com/q274bXz5xd
— Department of State (@StateDept) November 28, 2019
The United States Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter moved around joining people in their working places with a meal.
Ambassador McCarter was at Radio Africa Group’s The Star where he got the entire staff amused by a taste of turkey.
The Star’s digital editor Oliver Mathenge took to his social media accounts to share a video of McCarter sharing the turkey at the local daily’s offices.
He thanked the ambassador and the entire US Embassy for the courtesy call.
“Thank you balozi @USAmbKenya for the courtesy call and for bringing us the turkey. Happy Thanksgiving to the entire @USEmbassyKenya from all of at the star,” he posted.
Thank you balozi @USAmbKenya for the courtesy call and for bringing us the turkey. Happy Thanksgiving to the entire @USEmbassyKenya from all of us @TheStarKenya pic.twitter.com/6xSQnrlXVu
— Oliver Mathenge (@OliverMathenge) November 28, 2019
McCarter was also at The Standard Media Group where he got KTN News’ business anchor amused by the turkey’s taste during a live TV session.
He was also at Mediamax-owned K24 TV where he shared turkey with anchors as well.
Celebrating #ThanksgivingDay with a tantalizing turkey courtesy of Ambassador Kyle McCarter. pic.twitter.com/dkSfqJGCW3
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) November 28, 2019
He visited Nation Media Group as well with the turkey.
The custom of giving thanks for the annual harvest is one of the world’s oldest celebrations and can be traced back to the dawn of civilization.
However, it is not commonly a major modern event and arguably the success of the American holiday has been due to it being seen as a time to give ‘thanks’ for the foundation of the nation and not just as a celebration of the harvest.
The American tradition of Thanksgiving dates back to 1621 when the pilgrims gave thanks for their first bountiful harvest in Plymouth Rock. The settlers had arrived in November 1620, founding the first permanent English settlement in the New England region.
However, the US isn’t the only nation to mark Thanksgiving celebrations – Canada, Puerto Rico, Grenada and Liberia do so too.
In Canada, the national holiday takes place on the second Monday of October – this year that was October, 14, 2019.