Thanksgiving is celebrated to express gratitude for which of the following?

Thanksgiving is celebrated to express gratitude for the harvest and blessings of the past year. This tradition dates back to early colonial times when settlers held feasts to give thanks for the food they gathered and the successful harvests that sustained them. The holiday emphasizes gratitude for the abundance provided by the land, marking a time for families and communities to come together in appreciation of the resources that support them and the strength of their bonds.

The other choices, while they hold importance in various contexts, do not accurately capture the essence of what Thanksgiving specifically celebrates. Military service honors those who serve, national independence is recognized on different commemorative days, and cultural heritage reflects the diversity of traditions but is not the primary focus of Thanksgiving itself. Thus, the celebration is best understood within the framework of harvest and blessings from the past year, reinforcing the theme of thankfulness that defines the holiday.