Thanksgiving, a beloved holiday marked by feasting and gratitude, has a rich history that dates back to early colonial America. Its origins are intertwined with the struggles and triumphs of the first European settlers on North American soil, and its transformation into a national holiday is a testament to the enduring spirit of unity and thankfulness. In this blog, we'll take you through the significant dates and events that have shaped Thanksgiving from its humble beginnings to the modern celebration we know today.
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1620 - The Mayflower Voyage:
In September 1620, a group of 102 English Pilgrims set sail on the Mayflower to escape religious persecution in England. They arrived in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts in November. This journey marked the beginning of the Thanksgiving story as the settlers struggled to establish a new life in a foreign land.
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DID YOU KNOW-Pumpkins, which were first cultivated in Central America around 5,500 B.C., were one of the earliest foods the first European explorers brought back from the New World.
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1621 - The First Thanksgiving:
The following year, in November, the Pilgrims celebrated their first successful harvest with a three-day feast attended by around 50 Native Americans, including Squanto and Samoset, who had helped the Pilgrims learn to cultivate local crops and establish peaceful relations. This event symbolizes the cooperation between the Native Americans and the Pilgrims, and it is often considered the original Thanksgiving.
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DID YOU KNOW- Philadelphia is home to the oldest Thanksgiving parade.
The first parade was hosted by the Philadelphia Gimbel Brothers Department Store in 1920. It would go on to inspire the famous Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day Parade, which began in 1924.
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1789 - First Thanksgiving Proclamation:
The Continental Congress issued the first national Thanksgiving proclamation, setting aside Novemebr 26th, 1789 as a day of thanksgiving to celebrate the American victory over the British at the Battle of Saratoga. This marked the first time Thanksgiving was recognized on a national level.
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DID YOU KNOW- The First Thanksgiving, although turkey was plentiful in the region and a common food source, it's likely that it wasn't actually the star of the festivities and other "fowling" like ducks, geese, and swans were served for the occasion.
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1863 - Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation:
President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, setting the date as the final Thursday in November. Lincoln's proclamation was inspired by Sarah Josepha Hale's persistent advocacy and aimed to foster unity during the Civil War. This established Thanksgiving as an annual tradition in the United States.
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DID YOU KNOW- The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, initially known as the "Macy's Christmas Parade," was established as a festive launch for the holiday shopping season. In its inaugural year in 1924, the parade featured an assortment of creatures such as monkeys, bears, camels, and elephants, all on loan from the Central Park Zoo, rather than the iconic character balloons that have become a staple of the parade in more recent times.
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1939 - Thanksgiving Officially Set on Fourth Thursday:
In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill into law officially establishing Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November, regardless of whether it fell on the last Thursday of the month or not. This change was intended to extend the holiday shopping season, providing a boost to the economy during the Great Depression.
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DID YOU KNOW- Americans eat an estimated 46 million turkey's & 50 million pumpkin pies on Thanksgiving.While apple pie remains the most popular pie in America, on Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie is the reigning champion.
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1963 - The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade:
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City began in 1924 but became a significant cultural event in 1963 when it was broadcast in color for the first time. The parade continues to captivate millions of viewers and is a cherished Thanksgiving tradition.
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DID YOU KNOW- Thanksgiving leftovers led to the invention of TV dinners.
In 1953, C.A. Swanson & Sons overestimated how much turkey it was going to sell for Thanksgiving and ended up with 260 tons of leftover frozen turkey. A Swanson salesman named Gerry Thomas suggested the turkey be used in frozen dinners in aluminum trays. The following year, the company released what would become known as the first TV tray dinner.
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1970s - The Spread of Black Friday:
During the 1970s and onwards, the day after Thanksgiving, commonly known as "Black Friday," became synonymous with massive sales and shopping. This shopping extravaganza has marked the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season and continues to be a significant part of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
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DID YOU KNOW- Jingle Bells’ Was Originally a Thanksgiving Song
You likely associate this iconic song with the Christmas season—but it was originally written to celebrate Thanksgiving! The song, originally titled ‘One Horse Open Sleigh,’ was written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857 in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday.
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Modern Thanksgiving:
Today, Thanksgiving is a time for families and friends to come together, enjoy a feast, express gratitude, and reflect on the past year. It remains a day to appreciate the blessings of life and share time with loved ones, embodying the spirit of unity and thankfulness that has evolved from its historical origins.
In conclusion, Thanksgiving has evolved from its humble beginnings as a small harvest feast in Plymouth into a nationwide holiday steeped in tradition and history. Its roots lie in the collaboration between settlers and Native Americans, and it has grown into a day for gratitude and celebration in modern times. As we gather around our tables on Thanksgiving Day, we remember the journey that brought us here and the enduring spirit of thankfulness that unites us all.
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DID YOU KNOW- The largest pumpkin pie on record weighed 3,699 lb.
Everyone gets seconds—or even thirds! The world's largest pumpkin pie was made by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers and displayed at the New Bremen Pumpkinfest in New Bremen, Ohio in September 2010. The diameter of the pie was 20 feet!
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As Always Thanks For Reading
Rick