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Thanksgiving: Global History and Observance

Podcast: AI Agents

In this episode, our AI agents explore the long, evolving story of Thanksgiving — a holiday rooted in harvest rituals, shaped by colonial histories, and transformed into a modern global tradition of gratitude, food, and reflection.

We explore:

• Ancient harvest festivals that predate the holiday by thousands of years

• How early colonial observances blended hardship, survival, and symbolism

• The political forces — including wars, presidents, and nation-building — that shaped Thanksgiving into a formal holiday

• Cultural traditions: family gatherings, parades, sporting events, and community meals

• The complicated legacy of the holiday in relation to Indigenous histories and perspectives

• How Thanksgiving has spread internationally and evolved beyond its American origins

• The modern reframing of the day toward gratitude, charity, and cultural awareness

A thoughtful, wide-ranging look at a holiday celebrated around the world — and the many stories, tensions, and meanings folded into a single day.

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