Thanksgiving: A Brief History

Thanksgiving is a Federal holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It commemorates the first harvest of the settlers from England who arrived in North America in 1620. The custom of giving thanks for the harvest is one of the world’s oldest celebrations.

The Pilgrims and Squanto

In November 1620, 102 settlers from England arrived at Plymouth Rock aboard the Mayflower and established the first permanent English settlement in the New England region. After surviving their first winter, the Pilgrims encountered Squanto, a Native American who taught them essential survival skills.

The First Thanksgiving

The Pilgrims’ first successful Harvest was in November 1621, and Governor William Bradford invited nearby Native Americans for a feast. This first Thanksgiving was celebrated for three days with 51 settlers and 90 Wampanoag Indians, feasting on dried fruits, boiled pumpkin, Turkey, venison, and more.

Thanksgiving Becomes a National Holiday

In 1789, George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving to be a national holiday on Thursday, November 26th. The holiday was later celebrated on different days from state to state until President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863. Since then, every president has proclaimed the day of Thanksgiving.

Fun Facts about Thanksgiving

– The Plymouth settlers did not call themselves “pilgrims” and used spoons and knives, as forks did not become a common eating utensil until the 18th century.

– Sarah Josepha Hale, writer of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, LED a 17-year campaign to get Thanksgiving declared a national holiday.

– The tradition of the president pardoning a Turkey can be traced back to Abraham Lincoln, who pardoned a Turkey in 1864.

– The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 and was initially a Christmas parade to mark the start of the shopping season. It wasn’t until 1927 that the parade was renamed Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving holds a significant place in American history, commemorating the settlers’ first successful harvest and serving as a time to give thanks for the nation’s foundation. This holiday also marks the start of the holiday season, leading up to Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Disclaimer:

The information contained in the video or post represents the views and opinions of the original creators, and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of YeniExpo. The Video Content or Post has been made available for informational and educational purposes only.

YeniExpo does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the Video or Post Content. If you find any of your copyrighted material in this post or video, please contact us, so we can resolve the issue.

© All rights reserved by respective owners.