US embassy closed Thursday for Thanksgiving

US Embassy in Manila, Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The United States (US) Embassy will be closed on Thursday in observance of Thanksgiving, the embassy announced Wednesday.

“The US celebrates Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November each year.  The ‘First Thanksgiving’ in the U.S. is traditionally traced to the post-harvest feast by the American settlers and native American neighbors in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621,” the US Embassy said in an advisory.

“American families traditionally spend this holiday by getting together and sharing a special a meal where a roasted turkey is usually the major dish.  The period from Thanksgiving Day until News Year’s Day is often called the “holiday season” in America,” it said.

Thanksgiving day was officially proclaimed in 1863 by US President Abraham Lincoln, the embassy said.

The Embassy and all affiliated offices will resume service on Friday, it said.