Back in 1621, the Pilgrims had a lot to be thankful for. They had survived the voyage across the Atlantic, traveling 3000 miles from England to New England in search for religious freedom and they had found it in a land that at first sight did not have more than that to offer. Having to start their own community they worked side by side with the Wampanoags, a Native American tribe, for a good harvest. People of both cultures had been giving thanks for the fall harvest and other gifts of nature for many centuries. And in 1921 they gathered around the table to give thanks for the nature bounty together. Although the pilgrims were dedicated to their religion, that day the religious element was not present, since the two cultures focused on what they had in common and not on their differences. The feast lasted for three days and although there is little evidence that this feast of thanks led directly to our modern Thanksgiving holiday

Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, made huge efforts that eventually led to what we recognize as Thanksgiving. Hale wrote many editorials championing her cause in her Boston Ladies' Magazine, and later, in Godey's Lady's Book. Finally, after a 40-year campaign of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents, Hale's obsession became a reality when, in 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.

It was not until 1941 that Roosevelt proclaimed the Thanksgiving a Federal holiday, setting the date to the fourth Thursday in November.

Today, Thankgiving is more a religious holiday than it was than, when the Native Americans and the pilgrims joined together for the feast. It is a day of thanking God for everything that was gained during the year.

The ancient Chinese celebrated their harvest festival, Chung Ch'ui, with the full moon that fell on the 15th day of the 8th month. This day was considered the birthday of the moon and special "moon cakes", round and yellow like the moon, would be baked. Each cake was stamped with the picture of a rabbit - as it was a rabbit, not a man, which the Chinese saw on the face of the moon.

The families ate a thanksgiving meal and feasted on roasted pig, harvested fruits and the "moon cakes". It was believed that during the three day festival flowers would fall from the moon and those who saw them would be rewarded with good fortune.

According to legend Chung Ch'ui also gave thanks for another special occasion. China had been conquered by enemy armies who took control of the Chinese homes and food. The Chinese found themselves homeless and starving. In order to free themselves they decided to attack the invaders.

The women baked special moon cakes which were distributed to every family. In each cake was a secret message which contained the time for the attack. When the time came the invaders were surprised and easily defeated. Every year moon cakes are eaten in memory of this victory.

Sometimes, we can hear some Chinese say that the moon in USA is much bigger (round) than the moon in China. If people watch the moon at the Moon Festival night in USA, they can really see a bigger moon than at the Moon Festival night in China. In year 2000, for example, It was much closer to the full moon time 9-13-00 11:38 in PST than 9-14-00 03:38 in China on the night of 9-12-00.

The Story of The Moon Lady - Chang Er

The date of this story is around 2170 B.C. The earth once had ten suns circling over it, each took its turn to illuminate to the earth. But one day all ten suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. The earth was saved by a strong and tyrannical archer Hou Yi. He succeeded in shooting down nine of the suns. One day, Hou Yi stole the elixir of life from a goddess. However his beautiful wife Chang Er drank the elixir of life in order to save the people from her husband's tyrannical rule. After drinking it, she found herself floating and flew to the moon. Hou Yi loved his divinely beautiful wife so much, he didn't shoot down the moon.

http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/story.htm