Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in both the U.S. and Canada. Canadians hold this event on the second Monday in October. In both cases the traditional Thanksgiving meal is pretty similar.

According to historical records, the first Thanksgiving was observed in Canada in 1578 after explorer Martin Frobisher survived the long voyage and established a settlement in Canada. He held this event as a special thanks. The official proclamation naming this the national day of thanksgiving in Canada took place in 1957.

Apparently much of what American schoolchildren used to learn about this holiday could indeed be myth rather than historical fact. At any rate the first Thanksgiving was observed by the Pilgrims in1621 in Plymouth with the custom eventually spreading to other nearby colonies.

Following that, some individual states in the union declared their own Thanksgiving holidays. The cause for a national holiday was promoted by Sarah Josepha Hale, who was editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book. Finally in 1863, this became a national holiday when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that the last Thursday in November was to be the national day of thanksgiving. This date was later moved to the fourth Thursday, which isn’t always the last Thursday of the month.

For Thanksgiving centerpieces, traditional harvest themes are often used. The cornucopia is one of the most familiar styles. For this holiday one can choose from all kinds of edible and inedible floral materials. These include everything from rose-hips and hypericum to traditional grasses, nuts, grains, ornamental gourds, ornamental corns, and fall fruits of all sorts.

Almost any style of floral arrangement is suitable for this holiday. For dining tables, these should be low enough that they don’t block one’s view across the table. The floral designs need not be elaborate. It can be something as simple as ears of Indian corn braided together.

For colors, fall themed shades are mostly used for Thanksgiving Day floral arrangements. Accessorize with various motifs of the holiday, such as turkeys and birds as well as flower picks depicting turkeys and pilgrims. Ribbons and bows in seasonal color also add much to these Thanksgiving floral designs. All sorts of containers are suitable for this holiday, including urns and baskets.