The History of Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is a holiday held mostly in the United States and Canada. It is a day of family fun, fine food, and thanks. But the story of Thanksgiving is far from what has been passed down through traditional accounts. In fact, knowing how the holiday came to be and how it was transformed can reveal much about American culture and history.
The Early Origins of Thanksgiving
Ancient harvest festivals that have been celebrated in many civilizations across the world are the roots of Thanksgiving. People have been coming together for thousand years to celebrate the harvest and to give thanks for the bounty on earth. The celebrations often involved feasting, rituals, and communal activities.
The Native American peoples of North America had their own ways of giving thanks. Many of the tribes are different, but the overall themes of many of them were seasonal transitions and successful harvests. Food was often only a portion of the celebration, celebrating community, spirit, and life’s interconnectedness.
The Coming of the Pilgrims
Tradition starts the story of Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims, the English settlers seeking religious freedom. In 1620, they set sail on the Mayflower out of the restrictive society in England. The journey was perilous and had many to undergo plight and illness. When they landed in what is today Massachusetts, they faced a merciless winter struggling to survive.
Winter was extremely cruel the first year. By the time the Pilgrims arrived, they would not have time to plant crops. Many died of starvation as well as from disease, but shortly after their arrival, they were welcomed into contact with the Wampanoag, an encounter that would turn into a key factor in their survival. The Wampanoag people had taught them how to grow corn, beans, and squash, collectively one of the “Three Sisters.”.
The First Thanksgiving
By the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims had gathered enough harvest for them to survive the winter. They planned a feast to commemorate their successful harvest and thanksgiving. It was participated by both the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people. It lasted for three days and included several foods such as wild fowl, venison, corn, and vegetables.
This should be kept in mind, however; at the time this was not known as Thanksgiving. It would only later become identified with the term. And more, the event was not even a holiday at this point in time. But the event did reflect cooperation by the two groups at a time when both were being mutually benefited.
The Evolution of Thanksgiving Celebrations
After the feast of the Pilgrims, the colonizations had a lot of ideas over time regarding the concept of giving thanks. There were harvest festivals and days of thanksgiving each region had on their own terms and dates in customs. They varied in customs and dates often as a result of local harvest cycles and cultural practices.
The Plymouth colonists, on the other hand, celebrated in 1621 with a day of thanksgiving after the successful harvest. Other colonies took this practice over some declaring days of prayer and fasting to cope with the things that were bringing them down. Those early celebrations are undoubtedly a mix of religious and agricultural practices.
National Days of Thanksgiving
When the United States began to grow, the concept of a national day of thanksgiving started to propagate. In 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation of a national day of thanksgiving. He urged the Americans to express thanks for some successes and blessings the country was enjoying.
But no law was enacted by this declaration of 1863, which established an annual Thanksgiving holiday. The days of thanksgiving continued to be observed in various states, often dependent on local harvests or events.
Sarah Josepha Hale and the Campaign for Thanksgiving
One of the biggest figures in the campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday was Sarah Josepha Hale. A writer and editor, famous for her nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Hale was keen on the celebration of gratitude and family reunions.
Hale wrote numerous letters to presidents and influential figures, requesting a national Thanksgiving holiday. She had the notion that this would be used as a way of unity and national identity. Eventually, she got what she wanted when, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln announced Thanksgiving as the fourth national holiday, placing it on the last Thursday in November where he would call a day of “thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”
The Date Changes and Controversies
Lincoln’s proclamation declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, but he did not commit to any date. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it to the third Thursday in November. He considered that this would advance the holiday shopping season into the Great Depression. The federal government faced stiff resistance from states in this date change.
In response to the outcry and protest, Congress permanently codified Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November in 1941. This compromise resolved the date issue while also cementing Thanksgiving’s place in the American psyche.
Thanksgiving in Modern Times
Thanksgiving has become an important cultural activity in the United States. Families have come to celebrate across the country with large meals, usually revolved around turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Every family has its traditions, many of which are in keeping with their cultural origins and regional traits.
The Thanksgiving Feast
The traditional Thanksgiving meal is at the heart of the holiday. turkey is typically the centerpiece, roasted to perfection. Many families make stuffing, bread mixed with herbs and other ingredients, stuffed inside the turkey or cooked on its own.
Side dishes can range from anything. Commonly, people enjoy side dishes with mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, or sweet potatoes. Desserts include a favorite condiment, cranberry sauce, that adds a sweetness and sourness to compete with the savory taste of the meal. Pumpkin pie is another definitive dessert, typically topped with whipped cream.
Football and Parades
The traditional fun of Thanksgiving is the spectacular event in the feast. Football is not left out of the celebration. The National Football League (NFL) has several matches held on Thanksgiving Day. Millions of people view those games.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is another much-loved ritual. Balloons of gigantic proportions, floats, and performances by Broadway shows constitute it. Millions watch it on TV for the unofficial kickoff of the holiday season.
Thanksgiving as Reflection
Beyond the feasting and festivities, Thanksgiving is a time for reflection. Many families pause to say thanks before the meal. This practice can include sharing what each person is thankful for, or recounting cherished memories.
Thanksgiving is also a time for giving. Volunteers come to share meals with those in need and help feed the hungry by donating to food banks. This spirit of generosity reinforces the holiday’s underlying message of gratitude and compassion.
Recognizing Indigenous Perspectives
While Thanksgiving has become a celebrated holiday, this is a day to be considered by the views of Indigenous peoples. For Native Americans, this holiday is often a bitter reminder of colonization and the consequences of European settlement, which dislocated and brutally treated native communities.
Other Native nations observe a National Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving. This day is a time to remember their ancestors and raise awareness about their continued struggles. This standpoint encourages one to reflect on the ability of history to be multifaceted and the need to make sense of narratives.
Thanksgiving in a Global Context
While the holiday of Thanksgiving is mainly American, most cultures around the world have something very similar. In Canada, it is celebrated on the second Monday of October; however, similarities between this version and the American holidays are numerous but again rooted in different historical events.
Harvest festivals in many cultures serve the same purpose. Such festivities often give thanks for the bounties of the earth, celebrating people’s relationships in community. Everything from Mid-Autumn Festival in China to Sukkot in Israel celebrates appreciation, sharing, and family relationships.
Effect of Technology and Social Media
Celebrations in today’s digital age have been a lot changed because of technology. Social media offers most of its users a chance to share experiences about the holidays. Photos of feasts, family gatherings, and festive decorations are commonplace.
These posts can bring together and connect. They keep individuals connected with their family and friends, even though they are separated by distance. However, digital can create unrealistic expectations. Remember that togetherness and gratitude are the focus of the holiday – not perfection.
Conclusion
The holiday of Thanksgiving stands as one intricately rich holiday since it has deep historical roots in its origin-from early traditions of indigenous celebrations and Pilgrims’ feasts to its establishment as a national holiday. Therefore, Thanksgiving reflects the complexity of American history.
It was almost like a day for family, praise, and introspection. However, some diverse perspectives surround this holiday, especially for Indigenous peoples as we come together to celebrate.
