Every November, the US celebrates Thanksgiving Day - a national holiday when families come together to share food, enjoy parades and watch American football.

Through movies and TV shows, loads of people around the world are aware of Thanksgiving, roughly when it takes place, and that it tends to involve Americans eating a lot of turkey - and something called 'yams'

But far fewer people know what's actually being celebrated on Thanksgiving. So as the holiday approaches, here's everything you need to know about Thanksgiving.

When is Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. This year that falls on Thursday, November 27th.

Most government offices, businesses and schools close on Thanksgiving Day - with many closing on the Friday after, too, giving their employees a four day weekend.

What's the food like?

There will be turkey. And something called yams

The traditional Thanksgiving meal revolves around turkey, stuffing and vegetables. You'll also hear Americans talking about eating yams. Yams are a starchy root vegetable widely grown in the Carribean.

But usually when Americans talk about yams, they actually mean sweet potatoes.

The meal is traditionally rounded off with a pumpkin pie.

What else goes on on Thanksgiving day?

The Sonic the Hedgehog balloon floats down Central Park West during the 87th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York

Many big cities and towns hold a Thanksgiving Day parade, the most famous of which is the Macy's parade in New York City.

The three-hour event features floats, costumes and huge helium balloons in the shape of cartoon characters including Mickey Mouse and Felix the Cat. This year sees the debut of Pikachu from Pokemon, Paddington Bear and Thomas the Tank Engine.

Playing and watching American football is one of the longest held Thanksgiving traditions. NFL, college, high school and amateur teams have played over the Thanksgiving weekend practically since the game's invention, and it's one of the biggest days in the football calendar.

What's the history behind Thanksgiving?

George Washington declared the first national Thanksgiving Day in 1789

The celebration of Thanksgiving is, in general, a feast to give thanks for the fruits of the previous harvest.

In America specifically, it dates back to the 1600s. There's some argument over when the first Thanksgiving was, but many think it dates back to 1621, when the harvest was celebrated by the Pilgrims - Dutch settlers of the Plymouth Colony in what's now called Massachusetts.

It spread through the new country and was celebrated on different days in different commmunities until, in 1789, George Washington declared the first national Thanksgiving Day.

Does everyone in the US celebrate Thanksgiving?

No. Many Native Americans, who were displaced by the settlers, understandably choose not to celebrate Thanksgiving. Indeed, many groups actively protest against what they see as an offensive glorification of a group of people who plundered and stole their land and brought them, among other delights, syphilis.

When might I have seen Thanksgiving celebrated on the screen?

Many Brits' idea of Thanksgiving comes from the annual holiday episodes of Friends. They were some of the classic sit com's best loved episodes, despite our not really knowing what was going on.

You'll remember Chandler boycotting the holiday because it reminded him of his parents' divorce and the time when a Macy's parade balloon escaped and the cartoon character Underdog flew away - leading to the gang being locked out of Monica's apartment while the turkey burned.

"Those aren't pillows!"

But the best screen representation of Thanksgiving is the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles, starring Steve Martin and John Candy. It's the story of two strangers who instantly hate each other, but are forced to work together to navigate holiday transport madness to get home for the weekend.

Often misremembered as a Christmas film due to the snowy backdrop, it's not only hilarious, but gives you a great sense of how chaotic Thanksgiving weekend can be.

Are you celebrating Thanksgiving in the UK this year? Tell us all about it here: