Thanksgiving is one of the many celebrated American holidays in which family and friends are brought together for that special meal.

The question is, how important is it for our generation today?

Some Cerritos College students have different ways of celebrating the holiday.

Travis Mausbach, theater major said, “What I like most about thanksgiving is being with my family. It’s an important holiday for us.”

According to the Unites Census Bureau, “In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims, early settlers of Plymouth Colony, held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest, an event many regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving.

“Historians have also recorded ceremonies of thanks among other groups of European settlers in North America, including British colonists in Virginia in 1619.”

Then, it was passed on through generations and it became a national holiday in 1863.

Although it may be one of the most special days within the year for some of us, there are also people who oppose to the day being a national festivity.

According to the website timeanddate.com, “Each year since 1970, a group of Native Americans and their supporters have staged a protest for a National Day of Mourning at Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts on Thanksgiving Day.”

Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie to mention a few, are some of the most common dishes at a thanksgiving dinner.

Food, especially turkey plays an essential part to this celebration, the United States Census Bureau stated that, “$12.1 million is the value of U.S. imports of live turkeys from January through July of 2012.”

Kevin Krause, undecided major said, “For thanksgiving I’m going to go to my grandma’s and eat. Usually we all grab hands, we pray and we eat. I really like seeing my family.”

This holiday also allows Americans to give and volunteer to help out the less fortunate who do not have the possibility to afford a thanksgiving meal, for example non-profit organization and privately supported Los Angeles Mission.

Each year they have a thanksgiving celebration along with volunteers and celebrities to serve people.

Last year’s thanksgiving, Los Angeles Mission stated that they served, “A plate of turkey (3000 pounds), sesame and garlic roasted mashed potatoes (700 pounds), green beans (800 pounds), giblet gravy (80 gallons) and pie (600) while others poured and served drinks.”

In total there were 4,000 meals served, blankets were some of the several things that were also handed out in order to prepare the disadvantaged for winter.

For more information on how to help or volunteer locally on holidays such as thanksgiving, you can go on losangelesmission.org