Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, tracing its roots back almost 400 years to the Pilgrims, long before there was even a thought of a United States of America. Thanksgiving is a national celebration that serves to remind us how fortunate we are at a time when circumstances are so cruel for so many others in the world. Thanksgiving is a rare day for relaxation, reflection, and inevitably — at least for some of us — a post-dinner nap or early night of sleep.