How Thanksgiving started is a question that comes up pretty often!
Of course, the festival has taken on a different spirit and meaning, and many now know it as Friendsgiving – but what’s the essence of it?
Well, Thanksgiving is a holiday that’s as American as apple pie.
It’s a time when families gather around a turkey (that is likely way too big for the number of people present), loosen their belts a few notches, and dive into a food coma.
But while we all know that Thanksgiving means mashed potatoes, stuffing, and football, the origins of this holiday might surprise you.
So, let’s grab a slice of pumpkin pie and dig into the history of Thanksgiving and how it began in the United States!
The Pilgrims and the “First” Thanksgiving in USA
Let’s start with the basics. The year was 1620, and a group of English Pilgrims sailed across the Atlantic on the famous Mayflower to start a new life in the New World.
(Not the easiest of road trips, mind you – this was a months-long sea voyage with zero Wi-Fi and lots of seasickness).
These Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, where they set up shop and started building their colony.
After a rough first winter, where about half of them didn’t make it (talk about tough luck), the Pilgrims were understandably relieved when the next year’s harvest was successful.
Year 1621 – The First Thanksgiving In USA
So, in 1621, they decided to throw a big feast to celebrate their survival and the bounty of the land.
And guess who they invited? The Wampanoag people, their Native American neighbors, who had helped them learn how to plant crops, fish, and hunt in this unfamiliar environment.
- The feast lasted three days (because why celebrate for just one day when you’ve survived a whole winter?).
- The menu wasn’t exactly what you’d expect from a modern Thanksgiving dinner – no cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie. Instead, they probably dined on venison, seafood, and, of course, lots of corn.
This “First Thanksgiving” wasn’t called Thanksgiving at the time. It was simply a harvest festival, a tradition that many cultures around the world share.
It wasn’t even an annual event, just a way to mark a good year after a very bad one.
Thanksgiving Takes Time to Catch On!
Here’s where things get interesting. After that initial celebration in 1621, Thanksgiving didn’t immediately become a national tradition.
It took a while – like a really long while – for Thanksgiving to become the holiday we know today.
For more than 200 years after the Pilgrims’ feast, Thanksgiving celebrations were hit or miss. Some colonies celebrated it, others didn’t.
It was kind of like trying to get a group of friends to agree on where to eat – some folks are in, some aren’t feeling it.
George Washington and Godmother of Thanksgiving
Fast forward to the late 1700s. By now, the United States had declared independence from Britain, and good ol’ George Washington was the nation’s first president.
In 1789, Washington issued a proclamation calling for a national day of thanksgiving to thank God for the end of the Revolutionary War and the new U.S. Constitution.
It was a nice gesture, but still, Thanksgiving didn’t quite catch on as a national holiday.
Then came the 1800s, and along with it, a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale – aka the “Godmother of Thanksgiving.”
Hale was an author and magazine editor, best known for writing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” (yes, that Mary). But she had a passion for something else: making Thanksgiving a national holiday.
Sarah Josepha Hale: The Thanksgiving Crusader
For decades, Sarah Josepha Hale wrote letters to politicians, presidents, and anyone who would listen, urging them to make Thanksgiving an official, annual holiday across the United States.
Talk about persistence – this lady was determined!
She believed that a national day of gratitude could help unite the country during a time when sectionalism and division were growing. (Can we get a round of applause for Sarah?)
President Abraham Lincoln Joins In
Finally, in 1863, after Hale had been campaigning for nearly 17 years, President Abraham Lincoln decided to make her dream come true.
With the Civil War tearing the nation apart, Lincoln saw the value in setting aside a day for Americans to come together and count their blessings.
In the midst of the war, he proclaimed that the last Thursday of November would be a national Thanksgiving Day.
So, we can basically thank Lincoln (and Sarah Josepha Hale, of course) for the turkey, gravy, and pie we enjoy today.
A Few Bumps Along the Way
Now, you’d think that once Lincoln made Thanksgiving official, it was smooth sailing, right? Not quite. There were still a few bumps in the road.
FDR’s Turkey Trouble
In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to shake things up by moving Thanksgiving up one week to boost retail sales during the Great Depression.
(Because even back then, the holidays were about shopping).
But this backfired – people were not happy about messing with their turkey timeline.
Some states stuck with the traditional date, while others went with FDR’s new plan.
It was such a mess that people started calling the two Thanksgivings “Franksgiving.”
Finally, Congress stepped in and, in 1941, settled the date as the fourth Thursday in November.
The Modern Thanksgiving
Today, Thanksgiving 2024 is all about food, family, and giving thanks (and, let’s be real, football and Black Friday shopping too). But no matter how you celebrate, the spirit of the holiday is still the same: gratitude.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Started in 1924, this parade has become one of the most iconic parts of Thanksgiving, complete with giant balloons, marching bands, and Broadway performances.
It’s basically a tradition to watch it in your PJs while the turkey roasts.
The Presidential Turkey Pardon
Every year, the president of the United States pardons a turkey, saving it from the dinner table. It’s a quirky tradition that started in the 1940s and continues to this day. (Lucky bird!)
Football and Thanksgiving
The two go hand in hand, thanks to the NFL’s long-standing tradition of hosting games on Thanksgiving Day. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just in it for the snacks, it’s the perfect way to lounge around post-feast.
P.S. Feel free to read and plan your holiday in line with the historic Catholic Thanksgiving traditions!
Giving Thanks – Thanksgiving 2024
At the end of the day, Thanksgiving USA is all about gathering together, enjoying a meal, and remembering what we’re grateful for.
Whether you’re feasting on turkey, tofurkey, or just pie (no judgment), it’s a chance to press pause and appreciate the good things in life.
After all, life is a bit like that lumpy gravy—full of ups and downs, but better with a little love and a lot of carbs!
Happy Thanksgiving 2024!
