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Thanksgiving celebration, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, holiday shopping: 5 things to know Thursday

Editors  |  Paste BN

Will the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons get off the ground?

The 93rd annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will kick off the holiday season in New York City on Thursday morning, but its high-flying balloons could be grounded. Leading up to the parade, winds could near 21 mph with gusts approaching 39 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Under New York City regulations, winds over 23 mph and gusts over 34 mph call for the balloons to be grounded. The regulation was passed in 1997 when a Cat in the Hat balloon knocked down a lighting pole, injuring four people. The parade begins at 9 a.m. ET. The TODAY Show’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will host the three-hour broadcast on NBC.

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The first Thanksgiving: Time to take another look

Americans on Thursday will celebrate Thanksgiving with a feast of turkey, pie, and other goodies. We've all been taught the story of the very first Thanksgiving: Pilgrims and Native Americans came together in 1621 to feast and count their blessings. But researchers in Plymouth, Massachusetts, say the first gathering was much different than what has been portrayed over the centuries. For one thing, native people likely outnumbered English colonists 2-to-1, since about half of the 102 first Pilgrims died the first winter. And the gathering likely wasn't a cheerful affair, but a diplomatic peace mission that came about after members of the Wampanoag tribe spotted Pilgrims shooting muskets in a field. Paste BN's Joey Garrison takes a look at how new research is changing our understanding of the quintessential American holiday.

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First Thanksgiving: How Native Americans, Pilgrims started it all
From 1621 to now, Thanksgiving tradition still lives on. It just looks a little different than when the Pilgrims and Native Americans first met.
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It's not Thanksgiving without some football

Clear your plates for three servings of football, as the NFL has a full slate for Thanksgiving. Week 13 begins with the Chicago Bears facing off against the Detroit Lions, whose fan base is not too happy amid a 3-7-1 season. Afterward, the Buffalo Bills take on the restless Dallas Cowboys in what might be the best matchup of the day. And save room for dessert with the evening game between two NFC South rivals: the New Orleans Saints — who can clinch the division and become the first NFL team this season to wrap up a postseason spot — and the Atlanta Falcons.

Happy Thanksgiving! Is dinner ready yet?

Sure, Thanksgiving is a day to count our blessings and spend time with family and friends. But let's face it: It's mostly about eating! If you're cooking up a storm today, have no fear. The good folks at Grateful, part of the Paste BN Network, have a smorgasbord of Thanksgiving recipes.  We also have some tips to help you cope with a house full of hungry loved ones.

Are you a Thanksgiving shopper? We're here to help

If you're tired of feasting or just want a break from relatives — hey, we're not here to judge — you can hit the stores and try nabbing in-store Black Friday specials on Thanksgiving Day. Some of the major retailers open on the holiday include Target, Walmart, Best Buy, J.C. Penney, Macy's and Kohl's. But before you head out, do your homework: Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island stores will remain closed Thanksgiving. We recommend making a detailed plan that can help save you time, money and, most importantly, your sanity.Happy bargain hunting!

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