The History of Thanksgiving Day

The History of Thanksgiving Day:

• Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States, and Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It originated as a harvest festival. Thanksgiving has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789, with a proclamation by George Washington after a request by Congress. Thomas Jefferson chose not to observe the holiday, and its celebration was sporadic until the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, when Thanksgiving became a federal holiday in 1863, during the American Civil War. Lincoln proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens,” to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26. Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the date was changed to the fourth Thursday in November because he believed that it would give retailers a longer period to sell goods before Christmas.
• The American holiday of Thanksgiving is the one most commonly celebrated in Canada, and is also celebrated in Liberia and many other nations with which the United States has historical ties. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on various dates in other nations.
• Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated in Canada, the United States, some of the Caribbean islands, and Liberia. It was originally celebrated as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Similar holidays are held in other countries, such as harvest festivals and Mabon.
• The first recorded Thanksgiving celebration in North America was held by Martin Frobisher and his crew on Baffin Island in 1578. Frobisher, from England, was trying to find a northern route to the Orient.
• The United States’ Thanksgiving holiday originated from a mix of European and Native American traditions. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.
• Over time, the holiday evolved into a more secular event as elements of religious observance were dropped in favor of family gatherings, feasts, and parades. Football games became a popular tradition on Thanksgiving Day in the early 20th century. By the middle of the 20th century, the holiday’s meaning had changed from religious observance to an emphasis on family and friends, and the traditional food was turkey with stuffing and pumpkin pie.
• While the holiday is still celebrated by Americans of all religions, it has become increasingly secularized in recent decades. Many people now see Thanksgivings as a time for family reunions and to give thanks for all their blessings. In some families, this may include saying grace before the meal; in others, everyone may go around the table and say what they are thankful for.
• Today, Thanksgivings is primarily celebrated as a secular holiday. Millions of Americans travel long distances to be with family and friends for the Thanksgivings weekend. The day before Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, is one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
• On Thanksgivings Day, a traditional meal is served that typically includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie.
• While the holiday is still celebrated by Americans of all religions, it has become increasingly secularized in recent decades. Many people now see Thanksgivings as a time for family reunions and to give thanks for all their blessings. In some families, this may include saying grace before the meal; in others, everyone may go around the table and say what they are thankful for.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Thanksgiving is a holiday that has evolved over time. It is now primarily celebrated as a secular holiday, with many people seeing it as a time to give thanks for all their blessings. A traditional Thanksgiving meal typically includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie.