Before the founding fathers set their determined feet upon the decks of the Mayflower they were set... they would do whatever it took to reach their goal... Thanksgiving Day is a day set aside each year for giving thanks to God for blessings received during the year. The first Thanksgiving Days in New England were harvest festivals, or days for thanking God for plentiful crops. For this reason, the holiday still takes place late in the fall, after the crops have been gathered. In the United States, Thanksgiving is usually a family day, celebrated with big dinners and joyous reunions. The very mention of Thanksgiving often calls up memories of kitchens and pantries crowded with good things to eat. Thanksgiving is also a time for serious religious thinking, and prayer.