Thanksgiving Day, CDC's warning, a lighter NFL slate: 5 things to know Thursday

The first Thanksgiving was different than what you learned in school

Thanksgiving offers an opportunity to reflect on the inception of the United States, and the Native people who lived in the country long before the Europeans landed. From the landing on Plymouth Rock to the harmonious feast with the native Wampanoags, the story about the Pilgrims — and, by extension, the story of Thanksgiving — is rife with myth and inaccuracy. The historically accurate story of the Pilgrims and the founding of Plymouth Colony 400 years ago this month is not in most school history books. The Wampanoag Indian tribe weren’t invited to the 1621 feast that would later be referred to as Thanksgiving. They showed up. Their role in helping the Pilgrims survive by sharing resources and wisdom went unacknowledged that day, according to accounts of the toasts given by Pilgrim leaders. " I think the only way forward is to understand the history the way that it happened," Steven Peters, a spokesman for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe told the Cape Cod Times.

• Thanksgiving myths: 4 things that aren't true about the Pilgrims.

• After a summer of racial reckoning, is America ready to learn the truth about Thanksgiving?

• A nation created, a nation diminished: Pilgrims’ arrival 400 years ago spawned a clash of cultures.

• National Day of Mourning: Not all Native Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. Find out why.

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Final reminder: CDC recommends not traveling on Thanksgiving

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending against travel for Thanksgiving due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The tragedy that could happen is that one of your family members is coming to this family gathering and they could end up severely ill, hospitalized or dying," Dr. Henry Walke of the CDC said during a news briefing last week. In spite of the plea, Americans appear to be on the go this week. On Monday and Tuesday, almost a million travelers passed through security checkpoints at U.S. airports each day. Also, AAA projects that 50 million Americans will travel for the holiday. As for gathering safety tips, the CDC recommendations include bringing your own food, drinks and disposable items like food containers, plates and utensils. Also gatherings should be outside and the number of people attending should be limited. And, of course, don't forget to wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart and wash your hands.

• As COVID surges, college students are traveling for Thanksgiving. The CDC called them out in a warning.

• 'It's scary': Family members returning home bring higher COVID risk for Thanksgiving gatherings

• Opinion: Safety measures are critical if you must host an ill-advised Thanksgiving crowd

• Restrictions by state: What you need to know before you travel

Macy's parade looks a little different

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade celebration is still happening this year, but it will look and feel different due to the pandemic. The 94th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air from 9 a.m. to noon ET Thursday on NBC. While the festivities have historically drawn massive crowds to the streets of Manhattan, this year all activity will be focused on the Herald Square area, and the only way to watch will be on television. Dolly Parton, Patti LaBelle, Jordin Sparks and Leslie Odom Jr. are among the event's scheduled performers, along with dancers from the New York City Ballet and the casts of several Broadway shows. As for the balloons, the 2020 parade will include a 48-feet-tall inflatable "Boss Baby" and Red Titan from the YouTube series "Ryan's World."

• Fauci warns against Thanksgiving celebrations: How to stay safe indoors from the coronavirus during cold seasons

• New traditions: Parents, 2020 could be a time for new holiday traditions that outlast COVID-19 restrictions

• Six tips for Thanksgiving: How to celebrate safely during the pandemic

A lightened NFL Thanksgiving slate

What's a Thanksgiving feast with only appetizers and side dishes instead of a main course? The NFL is about to find out, as it postponed the Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers matchup — the marquee game of what had been a tripleheader — amid the Ravens' COVID-19 outbreak. That decision leaves two games on the slate: the Houston Texans playing at Detroit Lions, followed by the Washington Football Team taking on the Dallas Cowboys. Keep an eye on the quarterbacks in the opening game, as the Texans' Deshaun Watson has quietly dazzled in recent weeks while the Lions' Matthew Stafford needs two touchdown passes to set the record for scoring strikes on Thanksgiving (18, currently held by former Cowboys QB Tony Romo). The latter game will determine the leader of the NFC East, with Washington and Dallas both sitting at 3-7. The Cowboys will be playing just one day after strength and conditioning coordinator Markus Paul died Wednesday evening at the age of 54.

• Thanksgiving NFL viewer's guide: Everything you need to know about Thursday's games

• How some NFL players are spending Thanksgiving: Several are breaking from tradition to stay safe over the holiday.

• Column: Steelers players strike wrong tone with complaints about postponed Thanksgiving game

HBO Max has fresh and fun content for your Thanksgiving Day viewing

If you're not interested in the typical Thanksgiving TV fare, HBO Max has fresh content released Thursday morning. First is the three-episode premiere of "The Flight Attendant," which USA TODAY critic Kelly Lawler calls "a juicy melodrama that mixes black comedy, murder mystery and an emotional story about addiction." The eight-episode miniseries stars Kaley Cuoco in her highest-profile project since "The Big Bang Theory" ended. Also available is the new movie "Superintelligence" which stars Melissa McCarthy as an ordinary woman tasked with making a convincing argument why the human race shouldn't be wiped out to an apocalyptic AI (voiced by James Corden). On the reality TV side, the first three episodes of dating show "12 Dates of Christmas" also are available. What makes this series different? It features three leads living together – in an Austrian castle – looking for love and it includes gay and straight romances.

• 'I don't know what I'm doing': How Kaley Cuoco moved on from sitcom past to serve up racy sex scene in 'Flight Attendant'

• What to stream this Thanksgiving weekend: 'Christmas Chronicles 2,' 'Superintelligence,' 'Happiest Season'

• What's on TV and when? Rudolph, Snoopy, Mariah Carey and Dolly Parton help celebrate the holidays

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thanksgiving Day, CDC's travel warning: 5 things to know Thursday