Close your eyes and imagine an American family. Do you picture parents and children gathered for Thanksgiving dinner? The turkey glistening at the centre, along with bowls of sweet potatoes and spoonfuls of cranberry sauce.

Thanksgiving is the quintessentialA typical example. American holiday. It dates back to the Pilgrim Fathers, who survived their first winters in America with the help of the WampanoagA loose confederation of tribes. Their relationship with the settlers is not quite as the story of Thanksgiving tells it. The settlers brought across smallpox which turned into a deadly epidemic. Hundreds of Wampanoag died. The colonists took their land and sold survivors into slavery. tribe.

Nowadays, 91% of people in the United States mark Thanksgiving - more than Christmas or Independence DayAlso called the Fourth of July, Independence Day marks the historic date in 1776 when the US Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. .¹ Here are five reasons why the rest of us should celebrate:

Gratitude is good for you. According to psychologists, giving thanks can make someone happier. For Thanksgiving, being grateful "is built right into the holiday".²

Harvest holiday. Historically, many countries marked the end of harvest with an autumn festival. Thanksgiving connects people back to the seasons.

Friendsgiving. Young Americans will often share the holiday with friends. According to one journalist, it is a celebration of the family you "choose to spend the time with".³

Crossing cultures. Thanksgiving is celebrated by 74% of recent immigrants to America.⁴ Unlike Christmas, the festival is open to people of all faiths and none.

Different traditions. For some, Thanksgiving is a chance to watch American football, while for others, the Macy's paradeThe Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a New York City tradition that celebrates the opening of Macy's flagship department store and generates excitement for Christmas shopping. in New York is the highlight. Others look forward to the Black FridayThe day after US Thanksgiving, when lots of shops offer discounts on goods for Christmas shopping. sales. The holiday has something for everyone.

That said, many worry about the "epic waste", with the average family throwing away two-fifths of their food.⁵ Also, Native Americans argue that Thanksgiving is "propaganda", which whitewashesDeliberately conceals or hides the meaning of something. the conquest of America by European invaders.⁶

But Thanksgiving encourages people to support others through times of trouble. Surely everyone could benefit from embracing that message of hope?

Should it be a global festival?

Yes: Thanksgiving can be celebrated by people from different countries and religions, among family or friends, with food, or sports, or shopping. By encouraging people to be grateful, it makes their lives happier.

No: Thanksgiving shows the worst side of American society. It is a wasteful and excessive holiday, which misrepresents the European colonisation of the United States as a story of friendship and mutual support.

Or... If someone is lonely, or depressed, holidays can be hard. However, Thanksgiving encourages people to welcome strangers and share their food with outsiders. That makes it a festival that everyone can enjoy.