Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrating and giving thanks for the harvest of the previous year. It has religious and cultural roots, but is also now celebrated as a secular holiday. There is some debate as to when the first modern Thanksgiving in the United States took place—whether it was in Virginia or Massachusetts. Thanksgiving events took place in what would become Virginia, beginning in 1607, and Jamestown, Virginia, started holding thanksgivings in 1610. When 38 English settlers arrived at Berkeley Hundred, in Virginia in 1619, the day of their arrival was to be celebrated as a day of thanksgiving from there on forth. In 1621 and 1623 there were thanksgiving events held in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The 1621 observance was held after a fruitful growing season, and lasted for three days during the fall. It was not formally known as thanksgiving, but as a harvest festival. It included 90 Native Americans, and 50 Pilgrims from the Mayflower. The 1623 celebration was known as Thanksgiving, and was recognized by a civil authority, Governor Bradford. Other colonies soon afterwards celebrated Thanksgiving, such as the Massachusetts Bay Colony beginning in 1630.

During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress designated some days as thanksgiving days each year. The Continental Congress made its first national proclamation for Thanksgiving in 1777. A Thanksgiving was also proclaimed by General George Washington in December, 1777, as a celebration for the defeat of the British at Saratoga. In 1789 President George Washington issued a proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the United States government. Washington again declared a Thanksgiving Day in 1795, and President John Adams did so in 1798 and 1799. It was proclaimed by President James Madison, and by governors throughout the country. By 1858 there were 25 states whose governors had proclaimed a Thanksgiving. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated on the final Thursday of November, and since then the holiday has been observed annually each year.

Presidents following Lincoln also declared Thanksgiving to be on the final Thursday of November, until 1939 when Franklin Roosevelt designated it to be on the next-to-last Thursday of the month. He did this to lengthen the Christmas buying season, to help the economy while the Great Depression still lingered on. Roosevelt's change was not legally binding, and many ignored it and continued to celebrate the holiday on the final Thursday of the month. In December of 1941, a bill was passed by the House and Senate and signed by Roosevelt, that made Thanksgiving take place on the fourth Thursday of November. This meant the holiday usually fell on the last Thursday of November, but sometimes on the next to last Thursday.

Thanksgiving celebrations have changed over the years. During the latter half of the 19th century, New England celebrations often had Thanksgiving Eve raffles, and Thanksgiving morning shooting matches—where chickens and turkeys were used as targets. Church services were common, followed by a Thanksgiving feast, where many of today's staples were eaten, such as turkey and pumpkin pie, but also foods such as pigeon pie.

Today Thanksgiving is probably most known for the meal that accompanies it. The main dish is usually turkey, often roasted and stuffed. Additional foods often include mashed potatoes and gravy, squash, corn, brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and pie, such as pumpkin. Americans eat more during this meal than any other day of the year. Those who are religious often attend services and and give thanks.

Parades have been an important aspect of the holiday. Most notably, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been held in New York City since 1924. It is televised on NBC and runs from the Upper West Side of Manhattan to Macy's main location in Herald Square. Parade floats with specific themes, scenes from Broadway plays, large balloon cartoon characters, TV personalities, high school marching bands, and a Santa Claus float are usual parts of the parade. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Detroit, Michigan, also hold prominent parades.

Sports, particularly professional football, have become a big part of the holiday. Since its founding in 1920, The National Football League has held games on Thanksgiving. From 1934 to 1938, and since 1945, the Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving. The Dallas Cowboys have done so since 1966. In 2006 a third game on the day was added, and various teams switch off each year playing that game. Another sport-related event popular on the day is the turkey trot, which is a running event held in many cities across the country.

Beginning in 1947, The National Turkey Federation began giving the President one live turkey and two dressed turkeys each Thanksgiving. The tradition of turkey pardoning was started by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, although John F. Kennedy was the first President to spare the turkey given to him. Each president since Reagan has continued the tradition of pardoning a turkey.

How to Observe Thanksgiving Day

Celebrate the day by gathering with family and friends and cooking a large Thanksgiving meal. There are many types of food that could be made. Maybe you don't have to worry about eating a lot because you did a turkey trot earlier in the day. After your meal, you could relax by watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a football game, or a film that takes place on the holiday. But, if you ate a lot there's a good chance you'll fall asleep during whatever you are trying to watch. If you are religious this is also a fitting day to go to your house of worship to give thanks.

Exclusive Content

Enjoying Checkiday? It takes a lot of support from fans like you to run a free website. For exclusive content and other perks, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Thank you!

Sponsor

This event does not currently have a sponsor. If you'd like to increase visibility for this event while gaining exposure for yourself or your brand, you can learn more here!

Something Wrong or Missing?

We would love to hear from you! Please contact us using this form.

Observation Notifications

Would you like to be notified before the next observation? Add this event directly to your calendar with this link. You may also sign up here to be told when other notifications are available!