Learn about the history and meaning of Thanksgiving. Learn the story, facts and more about this special holiday. Explore its significance and tradition.
History of Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving in the United States took place in 1621 when people from England and Native Americans had a big meal together. They were looking forward to a good harvest. After that, different places in the country celebrated thanksgiving days.
In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln said that there should be a national Thanksgiving Day every November. But some people, especially Native Americans, think that Thanksgiving hides the bad things that happened between European settlers and Native Americans.
Meaning
Thanksgiving is a special day in the United States, celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. It all started with a hearty meal of Plymouth colonists from England and Native Americans. This meal is considered to be one of the first Thanksgivings in America. The holiday is meant to celebrate the harvest season and all the good things that happened in the past year. It is a time for people to gather with family and friends, eat a traditional meal and give thanks for all the good things in life.
The facts
- The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 and lasted three days with nearly 53 Pilgrims, 90 Wampanoag Indians and probably only five women.
- There is no evidence that the food at the first Thanksgiving included turkey, but it probably included venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel, and fish, as well as pumpkins and cranberries.
- Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863 after being persuaded by Sarah Josepha Hale, who wrote “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” after writing letters for 17 years.
- The history of US presidents pardoning turkeys is a bit murky. Harry Truman didn’t actually pet a turkey, but he did receive one and eat it for dinner. John F. Kennedy was the first to release the turkey for Thanksgiving, and George HW Bush formalized the tradition of pardoning the turkey in 1989.
- Thanksgiving Day football began in 1876 with a game between Yale and Princeton, and the first NFL Thanksgiving Day games were played in 1920.
Importance
Thanksgiving has become more of a gathering and thanksgiving instead of a religion. Many people in the US see it as a day to catch up with family and friends, eat delicious food and watch football. Some people write down what they are grateful for and tell others about it. It’s a time to be with loved ones and say thank you for all the good things in life.
Read
- “What if we were grateful for everything today?” – Charlie Brown
- “Be present in everything and be grateful for everything.” – Maya Angelou
- “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.” – Melody Beattie
- “Give thanks for little and you will find much.” – Hansa proverb
- “Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.” – Rumi
- “A grateful recipient bears a bountiful harvest.” – William Blake
- “Gratitude is when the memory is stored in the heart, not in the mind.” – Lionel Hampton
- “True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘Thank you for that experience.'” – Oprah Winfrey
- “Thanksgiving is the meal we wish other meals were like.” – Jonathan Safran Foer
- “Thanksgiving was never meant to be closed in one day.” – Robert Caspar Lintner
- “If you want to change your life, try gratitude. It will change your life a lot.” – Gerald Good
- “There is always, always something to be thankful for.” – Unknown
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Categories: General
Source: HIS Education