How To Celebrate Thanksgiving In The UK
Thanksgiving might not be an age-old tradition in British history, but more and more families are starting to adopt this autumnal holiday. And who can blame them? A day all about family and food? It’s no wonder the UK has taken it under its wing.
We dig in to discover more about Turkey Day and reveal some of our favourite toys made across the pond - including TikTok sensation, NeeDoh.
When Is American Thanksgiving?
USA Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year. The date of Thanksgiving 2022 is 24th November.
Canadians do things differently and actually celebrate their Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October.
Why Is Thanksgiving Celebrated?
The history of Thanksgiving dates way back to the leafy autumn days of 1621, when the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people came together for a three-day festival to rejoice in the season’s bountiful harvest.
But American Thanksgiving only made it big when Sarah Josepha Hale, author of Mary Had A Little Lamb, got involved. She wanted it to become an annual event that brought people together and welcomed peace, so she wrote letters to politicians asking them to make Thanksgiving a national celebration in the USA. It took 17 years, but in 1863 she finally got her wish when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday.
Thanksgiving In The UK
Today, Thanksgiving-style festivities are celebrated in the UK and all over the world. It gives families a chance to spend time together, share gratitude and feast on hearty home-cooked food.
Why not invite the kids to join you in the kitchen? They could give you a helping hand with the roast, looking good enough to eat in their adorable Chef’s Set! Cooking is a superb sensory experience for littlens, as they learn through tasting, touching, smelling, watching and listening. They’ll also feel a sense of pride and achievement from helping you rustle up a delicious meal for the family, making it an excellent confidence booster.
Our Favourite American-Made Toys
We have handpicked five of the best kids toys in our collection made by USA-based brands, Schylling and Green Toys.
NeeDoh
NeeDoh is a sensory stress ball which was made famous on TikTok with more than 150 million views. Kids can squish, squash and smush the silky dough-like ball, which has heaps of benefits from relieving anxiety to improving concentration. It’s also a popular toy with children who have ADD, ADHD, OCD and autism. Our NeeDoh fidget toys range includes the ever-so-satisfying Noodlies, fluorescent Dohjees and Glow In The Dark NeeDoh.
Cupcake Truck
Tiny truckers and baking-mad bambinos can deliver goods of the sponge variety with the Green Toys Cupcake Truck. Everything is made out of 100% recycled milk bottles, including the two iced cupcakes it comes with. It’s a charming way to help kids develop their vocabulary while delivering their sweet treats to friends and family. 
Wood Stacking Robots
A stacking toy with a mechatronic twist! Schylling’s unique Wood Stacking Robots come in a rainbow of colours and can be balanced on top of each other to create super-cool shapes and tumbling towers. Stacking toys are brilliant for cause-and-effect learning, while also boosting kids’ curiosity and creativity. 
RV Camper Set
Set up camp in your living room with the Green Toys RV Camper. This 3-in-1 car toy is kitted out with everything your little lumberjack will need to ignite their imagination and bring the great outdoors inside, including a pick-up truck, speed boat, picnic table, two chairs and a camping stove. What s’more… the set is made entirely out of recycled plastic!
Mermaid Tin Tea Set
Pumpkin pie anyone? Young hosts and hostesses can serve up pudding using their very own Mermaid Tin Tea Set this Thanksgiving. The set comes with four dessert plates, four cups and saucers, a teapot and serving tray. Pretend play is fantastic for strengthening children’s language development, social skills and imagination. 
What are your plans this Thanksgiving? Share your Turkey Day snaps with us over at @bigjigstoys.