November 27, 2025 • 9 mins
In this special Thanksgiving episode of Kidcast Daily, we explore the history, traditions, and fun facts that make this holiday so special. From the first feast to modern-day celebrations, discover how families come together to give thanks and enjoy delicious food! #Kids #kidspodcast #Trivia #fun #Thanksgiving #Thankful #HolidayHistory #FamilyTraditions
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:08):
Spin the wheel, let's take a ride.
Sports and science bursting frominside a world of wonder.
Open wide. Come on kids, let's amplify kid
cats. Daily starts yours.
Welcome to Kit Cast Daily, wherewe bring news, trivia, fun
(00:29):
facts, and more just for curiouskids like you.
Today, we're going to explore a holiday that's full of food,
family, and fun, Thanksgiving. Whether you celebrate it every
year or just want to learn more about it, this episode is packed
with interesting facts and easy explanations.
So let's get started. Let's begin with the basics.
(00:50):
What is Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is a holiday
celebrated mostly in the United States and Canada.
In the United States, it's always on the 4th Thursday in
November. In Canada, it happens earlier on
the second Monday in October. Thanksgiving is a special day
when people come together to give thanks for what they have.
Many families and friends gatherfor a big meal, share stories
(01:13):
and enjoy each other's company. But where did Thanksgiving come
from? To answer that, we need to go
back almost 400 years to the early 1600s.
Back then, a group of people called the Pilgrims left England
and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on a ship called the
Mayflower. They landed in a place that is
now called Plymouth in the stateof Massachusetts.
(01:35):
The Pilgrims came to America formany reasons, but one big reason
was that they wanted to practicetheir own religion freely.
The first winter for the Pilgrims was really tough.
They did not have enough food and many people got sick.
But things changed when they metNative American people from the
Wampanoag tribe. The Wampanoag taught the
Pilgrims many important things like how to grow corn, beans,
(01:58):
and squash and how to catch fish.
With this new knowledge, the Pilgrims had a much better
harvest the next year. To celebrate their successful
harvest, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag shared a big meal
together in the fall of 1621. This is known as the First
Thanksgiving. It lasted for three days and
included lots of food and games.Historians believe they ate
(02:22):
things like wild Turkey, venison, which is deer meat,
corn and seafood. There were no mashed potatoes or
pumpkin pie at that first Thanksgiving because potatoes
and sugar weren't common in thatpart of America yet.
Did you know that the first Thanksgiving wasn't actually
called Thanksgiving by the people who celebrated it?
It was just a harvest feast and the name Thanksgiving came
(02:42):
later. In fact, the tradition of having
a special day to give thanks wascommon in many cultures around
the world even before the Pilgrims.
Now let's talk about how Thanksgiving became a national
holiday. After the first feast in 1621,
people in different colonies sometimes had days of
Thanksgiving, but there wasn't one official day for everyone.
(03:03):
That changed thanks to a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale.
She was a writer and editor who thought the whole country should
have a special Thanksgiving Day every year.
She wrote letters to presidents,governors and other leaders for
17 years. Finally, in 1863, President
Abraham Lincoln agreed and made Thanksgiving a national holiday
(03:25):
in the United States. He chose the last Thursday in
November for the celebration. Here's a fun fact.
Sarah Josefa Hale also wrote thenursery rhyme Mary had a little
Lamb. So in a way, she helped create
two things many people know today.
Now let's take a look at some Thanksgiving traditions.
The most famous tradition is probably the Thanksgiving meal.
(03:48):
Many families gather around a big table and eat Turkey,
stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin
pie. Some families also serve sweet
potatoes, green bean casserole, gravy and rolls.
Each family has its own favoritefoods and recipes, and sometimes
people add their own special dishes.
Why do people eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?
(04:10):
Turkey was not the main dish at the first Thanksgiving, but it
soon became popular because wildturkeys were common in America
and they were big enough to feeda lot of people.
Over time, Turkey became the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving
meal. Another tradition is watching
parades. The most famous parade is the
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
(04:31):
This parade started in 1924 and features giant balloons shaped
like cartoon characters, colorful floats, marching bands,
and even clowns. Millions of people watch the
parade on TV every year. If you've ever seen big balloons
shaped like a dog, a bear, or a famous character floating down a
city street, you are probably watching the Macy's Thanksgiving
(04:53):
Day Parade. Football is also a big part of
Thanksgiving for many families. The first Thanksgiving football
game was played in 1876 between Yale and Princeton.
Now, professional football teamsplay games every Thanksgiving,
and many people enjoy watching them with family and friends
after their meal. Did you know that there is a
special tradition at the White House each year called the
(05:15):
Turkey pardon? Every year, the President of the
United States receives a live Turkey and pardons it, which
means the Turkey is allowed to live instead being cooked for
dinner. The pardon Turkey then gets to
live out its life on a farm. This is a lighthearted and fun
tradition that started in the late 1900s.
Some people also use Thanksgiving as a time to help
(05:37):
others. Volunteer groups and community
centers organize Thanksgiving meals for people who might not
have enough food or family to celebrate with.
Many kids and adults volunteer at Food Banks Oregon Donate can
goods around this time of year. It's a way to share and make
sure everyone in the community can enjoy the holiday.
Let's talk about giving thanks, which is the main idea behind
(05:59):
Thanksgiving. Giving thanks means showing
appreciation for the good thingsin your life.
These can be big things like your family and friends, or
small things like a cozy blanketor your favorite snack.
Some families go around the table and share what they are
thankful for before eating theirmeal.
Others write down things they are thankful for and put them in
(06:19):
a thankful jar to read later. Did you know that scientists
have found that giving thanks can make people feel happier?
When you think about what you are grateful for, it can help
you feel more positive and loweryour stress.
That's one reason why Thanksgiving can be a really
special and uplifting day. Now let's travel N to Canada for
a moment. Thanksgiving in Canada is
(06:40):
similar to the American holiday,but it has its own history.
The first Canadian Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1578 when
explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew held a ceremony to give
thanks for a safe journey. Today, Canadians celebrate
Thanksgiving with Turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie, just
like in the United States, but they do it in October when the
(07:01):
harvest season is earlier. Let's have some quick fire
Thanksgiving. Did you know facts?
Did you know that about 46,000,000 turkeys are eaten in
the United States every Thanksgiving?
Did you know that cranberries, which are a common Thanksgiving
side dish, float in water because they have small air
pockets inside them? Did you know that the largest
pumpkin pie ever made weighed over £3600?
(07:25):
That's heavier than a small car.Did you know that the wishbone
of a Turkey is used in a fun Thanksgiving tradition?
Two people pull on opposite endsof the wishbone after the meal.
Whoever gets the bigger piece issaid to have good luck.
Did you know that Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel
times of the year in the United States?
Lots of people travel by car, bus, train or plane to be with
(07:48):
their families. Now let's talk about how kids
can celebrate Thanksgiving. If you celebrate Thanksgiving,
you might help set the table, make decorations, or help cook
in the kitchen. You can make crafts like Turkey
hats, handprint turkeys, or colorful placemats.
Some families play board games or take a walk outside after
dinner. Others watch a holiday movie
(08:09):
together. No matter how you celebrate, the
most important thing is spendingtime with people you care about.
If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, that's OK too.
You can still take time to thinkabout what you are thankful for
and show appreciation to the people around you.
Maybe you can write a thank you note to a friend or teacher or
help someone in your community. Being thankful is something
(08:31):
everyone can do, no matter whereyou live or what holidays you
celebrate. Let's do a quick recap of what
we learned today. Thanksgiving is a holiday about
giving thanks and sharing a meal.
Mostly celebrated in the United States and Canada, the first
American Thanksgiving happened in 1621 when the Pilgrims and
the Wampanoag people shared a harvest feast.
(08:54):
Thanksgiving became a national holiday in the United States
thanks to Sarah Josefa Hale and President Abraham Lincoln.
Traditional foods include Turkey, stuffing, mashed
potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, but every family
has its own favorites. Fun traditions include parades,
football games, the Turkey pardon, and making crafts or
(09:15):
volunteering to help others. The main idea of Thanksgiving is
to be thankful for the good things in your life and to share
with others. That's all for today's episode
of Kick Ass Daily. Thanks for listening and
learning with us. We hope you have a fun and
thankful Thanksgiving. Whether you celebrate with a big
meal, a quiet day, or by helpingothers, remember being thankful
(09:38):
is something you can do every day of the year.
Until next time, stay curious. Grab.
Your breakfast feeling fine, adventures waiting Don't be
late, today's the day we.
Spin the wheel, let's take a ride.
Sports and science bursting frominside a world of wonder.
Open wide. Come on kids, let's amplify kid
cats. Daily starts yours.
Welcome to Kit Cast Daily, wherewe bring news, trivia, fun
(00:29):
facts, and more just for curiouskids like you.
Today, we're going to explore a holiday that's full of food,
family, and fun, Thanksgiving. Whether you celebrate it every
year or just want to learn more about it, this episode is packed
with interesting facts and easy explanations.
So let's get started. Let's begin with the basics.
(00:50):
What is Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is a holiday
celebrated mostly in the United States and Canada.
In the United States, it's always on the 4th Thursday in
November. In Canada, it happens earlier on
the second Monday in October. Thanksgiving is a special day
when people come together to give thanks for what they have.
Many families and friends gatherfor a big meal, share stories
(01:13):
and enjoy each other's company. But where did Thanksgiving come
from? To answer that, we need to go
back almost 400 years to the early 1600s.
Back then, a group of people called the Pilgrims left England
and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on a ship called the
Mayflower. They landed in a place that is
now called Plymouth in the stateof Massachusetts.
(01:35):
The Pilgrims came to America formany reasons, but one big reason
was that they wanted to practicetheir own religion freely.
The first winter for the Pilgrims was really tough.
They did not have enough food and many people got sick.
But things changed when they metNative American people from the
Wampanoag tribe. The Wampanoag taught the
Pilgrims many important things like how to grow corn, beans,
(01:58):
and squash and how to catch fish.
With this new knowledge, the Pilgrims had a much better
harvest the next year. To celebrate their successful
harvest, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag shared a big meal
together in the fall of 1621. This is known as the First
Thanksgiving. It lasted for three days and
included lots of food and games.Historians believe they ate
(02:22):
things like wild Turkey, venison, which is deer meat,
corn and seafood. There were no mashed potatoes or
pumpkin pie at that first Thanksgiving because potatoes
and sugar weren't common in thatpart of America yet.
Did you know that the first Thanksgiving wasn't actually
called Thanksgiving by the people who celebrated it?
It was just a harvest feast and the name Thanksgiving came
(02:42):
later. In fact, the tradition of having
a special day to give thanks wascommon in many cultures around
the world even before the Pilgrims.
Now let's talk about how Thanksgiving became a national
holiday. After the first feast in 1621,
people in different colonies sometimes had days of
Thanksgiving, but there wasn't one official day for everyone.
(03:03):
That changed thanks to a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale.
She was a writer and editor who thought the whole country should
have a special Thanksgiving Day every year.
She wrote letters to presidents,governors and other leaders for
17 years. Finally, in 1863, President
Abraham Lincoln agreed and made Thanksgiving a national holiday
(03:25):
in the United States. He chose the last Thursday in
November for the celebration. Here's a fun fact.
Sarah Josefa Hale also wrote thenursery rhyme Mary had a little
Lamb. So in a way, she helped create
two things many people know today.
Now let's take a look at some Thanksgiving traditions.
The most famous tradition is probably the Thanksgiving meal.
(03:48):
Many families gather around a big table and eat Turkey,
stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin
pie. Some families also serve sweet
potatoes, green bean casserole, gravy and rolls.
Each family has its own favoritefoods and recipes, and sometimes
people add their own special dishes.
Why do people eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?
(04:10):
Turkey was not the main dish at the first Thanksgiving, but it
soon became popular because wildturkeys were common in America
and they were big enough to feeda lot of people.
Over time, Turkey became the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving
meal. Another tradition is watching
parades. The most famous parade is the
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
(04:31):
This parade started in 1924 and features giant balloons shaped
like cartoon characters, colorful floats, marching bands,
and even clowns. Millions of people watch the
parade on TV every year. If you've ever seen big balloons
shaped like a dog, a bear, or a famous character floating down a
city street, you are probably watching the Macy's Thanksgiving
(04:53):
Day Parade. Football is also a big part of
Thanksgiving for many families. The first Thanksgiving football
game was played in 1876 between Yale and Princeton.
Now, professional football teamsplay games every Thanksgiving,
and many people enjoy watching them with family and friends
after their meal. Did you know that there is a
special tradition at the White House each year called the
(05:15):
Turkey pardon? Every year, the President of the
United States receives a live Turkey and pardons it, which
means the Turkey is allowed to live instead being cooked for
dinner. The pardon Turkey then gets to
live out its life on a farm. This is a lighthearted and fun
tradition that started in the late 1900s.
Some people also use Thanksgiving as a time to help
(05:37):
others. Volunteer groups and community
centers organize Thanksgiving meals for people who might not
have enough food or family to celebrate with.
Many kids and adults volunteer at Food Banks Oregon Donate can
goods around this time of year. It's a way to share and make
sure everyone in the community can enjoy the holiday.
Let's talk about giving thanks, which is the main idea behind
(05:59):
Thanksgiving. Giving thanks means showing
appreciation for the good thingsin your life.
These can be big things like your family and friends, or
small things like a cozy blanketor your favorite snack.
Some families go around the table and share what they are
thankful for before eating theirmeal.
Others write down things they are thankful for and put them in
(06:19):
a thankful jar to read later. Did you know that scientists
have found that giving thanks can make people feel happier?
When you think about what you are grateful for, it can help
you feel more positive and loweryour stress.
That's one reason why Thanksgiving can be a really
special and uplifting day. Now let's travel N to Canada for
a moment. Thanksgiving in Canada is
(06:40):
similar to the American holiday,but it has its own history.
The first Canadian Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1578 when
explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew held a ceremony to give
thanks for a safe journey. Today, Canadians celebrate
Thanksgiving with Turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie, just
like in the United States, but they do it in October when the
(07:01):
harvest season is earlier. Let's have some quick fire
Thanksgiving. Did you know facts?
Did you know that about 46,000,000 turkeys are eaten in
the United States every Thanksgiving?
Did you know that cranberries, which are a common Thanksgiving
side dish, float in water because they have small air
pockets inside them? Did you know that the largest
pumpkin pie ever made weighed over £3600?
(07:25):
That's heavier than a small car.Did you know that the wishbone
of a Turkey is used in a fun Thanksgiving tradition?
Two people pull on opposite endsof the wishbone after the meal.
Whoever gets the bigger piece issaid to have good luck.
Did you know that Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel
times of the year in the United States?
Lots of people travel by car, bus, train or plane to be with
(07:48):
their families. Now let's talk about how kids
can celebrate Thanksgiving. If you celebrate Thanksgiving,
you might help set the table, make decorations, or help cook
in the kitchen. You can make crafts like Turkey
hats, handprint turkeys, or colorful placemats.
Some families play board games or take a walk outside after
dinner. Others watch a holiday movie
(08:09):
together. No matter how you celebrate, the
most important thing is spendingtime with people you care about.
If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, that's OK too.
You can still take time to thinkabout what you are thankful for
and show appreciation to the people around you.
Maybe you can write a thank you note to a friend or teacher or
help someone in your community. Being thankful is something
(08:31):
everyone can do, no matter whereyou live or what holidays you
celebrate. Let's do a quick recap of what
we learned today. Thanksgiving is a holiday about
giving thanks and sharing a meal.
Mostly celebrated in the United States and Canada, the first
American Thanksgiving happened in 1621 when the Pilgrims and
the Wampanoag people shared a harvest feast.
(08:54):
Thanksgiving became a national holiday in the United States
thanks to Sarah Josefa Hale and President Abraham Lincoln.
Traditional foods include Turkey, stuffing, mashed
potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, but every family
has its own favorites. Fun traditions include parades,
football games, the Turkey pardon, and making crafts or
(09:15):
volunteering to help others. The main idea of Thanksgiving is
to be thankful for the good things in your life and to share
with others. That's all for today's episode
of Kick Ass Daily. Thanks for listening and
learning with us. We hope you have a fun and
thankful Thanksgiving. Whether you celebrate with a big
meal, a quiet day, or by helpingothers, remember being thankful
(09:38):
is something you can do every day of the year.
Until next time, stay curious. Grab.
Your breakfast feeling fine, adventures waiting Don't be
late, today's the day we.
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