As Thanksgiving approaches, many look forward to the familiar feasts shared with family, where traditions are celebrated, laughter flows the air, and the table is covered with a variety of dishes. But beyond the turkey and pie, this holiday holds a deeper meaning where people reflect on the power of gratitude. As children, people learn to make handprint turkeys or recite things they are thankful for, but these traditions are just the beginning of what Thanksgiving really means. While many see Thanksgiving as feasts, football, and family gatherings, the origins and traditions that come with this day have evolved over centuries, carrying their own meaning and significance.
The origins of Thanksgiving go all the way back to colonial America days, when a set of protestant settlers left England aboard the Mayflower to come all the way to New England. These protestants then were religious separatists who were splitting from the Anglican Church in England in hope for religious freedom and prosperity. After the Pilgrims settled, they endured a harsh winter, but received assistance from Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe. This interaction between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans marks the beginning of their cooperation later culminating into the modern-day holiday. In November 1621, the first Thanksgiving was celebrated to celebrate a successful harvest as a three-day feast was shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe. The Pilgrims held their second Thanksgiving in 1623.
During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated days of thanksgiving, and in 1789, George Washington issued the first national Thanksgiving proclamation to express the thankfulness of the end of the war and the ratification of the Constitution. Sarah Josepha Hale, writer of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” began campaigning for Thanksgiving to become a national holiday in 1827. Her efforts were heard in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln issued a national day of thanksgiving that would be celebrated on the final Thursday in November.
Traditional Thanksgiving foods often include turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cornbread, cranberry sauce, and pie such as pumpkin or pecan. A fun custom for many is breaking the turkey’s wishbone where two people pull on each end while making a wish. The one left with the larger piece of bone after the snap will supposedly have their wish granted. Other common traditions include traveling and shopping, or watching football games and parades.
Sources:
https://parade.com/1056679/kelseypelzer/what-is-thanksgiving/
https://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/thanksgiving-traditions
