The History of Thanksgiving: A Time-Honored Tradition
A Brief History
Introduction
Thanksgiving is a beloved American holiday featuring family time, big dinners, and giving thanks. More than just a feast with Native Americans and Pilgrims, Thanksgiving's history is complex, mixing different cultures, beliefs, and historical events. We'll take a look into how Thanksgiving came to be and how it has changed over time.
Native American Harvest Festivals
Long before the Pilgrims, Native Americans across the continent celebrated the end of the harvest season. These events were filled with meals, rituals, and thanks to nature and spiritual entities. These celebrations were core to their way of life well before Europeans set foot on their lands.
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Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving
The story of the first Thanksgiving starts in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Pilgrims landed seeking religious freedom and faced tough times during the winter. They met Squanto, a Native American who spoke English and taught them to grow corn and use fish as fertilizer. After harvesting their crops, they held a feast and invited the Wampanoag tribe to celebrate with them.
Evolution of Thanksgiving Traditions
It's a common misunderstanding that Thanksgivings were regular yearly celebrations from the beginning - they weren't. The early events happened now and then, often because of specific reasons like winning battles or rain after dry spells. It was only in the 1800s that the idea of celebrating Thanksgiving nationally caught on.
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Sarah Josepha Hale's Campaign
Sarah Josepha Hale, an influential editor and author, played a key part in making Thanksgiving a national holiday. Hale didn't rest until she got what she was after, writing loads of letters to political leaders, including governors and senators, and finally, President Abraham Lincoln. In the thick of the Civil War in 1863, Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, hoping it would bring people together and remind them to be thankful during tough times.
Thanksgiving Becomes a National Holiday
After Lincoln called for it, Thanksgiving was celebrated every year on the last Thursday of November. But the date wasn't set in stone until President Franklin D. Roosevelt stepped in during the Great Depression. In 1939, he moved Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday of November to kick off the shopping season earlier and give the economy a boost.
Cultural Significance of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is about more than just eating and having fun. It's a time to be grateful for what we have, bringing people together as one. This holiday also makes us think about the past, reminding us to value the role of Native Americans in the Thanksgiving story.
Conclusion
For hundreds of years, Thanksgiving has mixed Native American customs with those of the early settlers from Europe. It's now seen as a symbol of togetherness for the whole country. When we sit down to enjoy a feast and share in the holiday cheer, let's remember the rich history that leads to our annual celebration of thanks each November. Thanksgiving isn't just any old holiday – it's a special mix of history, culture, and our never-give-up attitude.
Personally, Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holiday, not only because of the historical tie with the country, but it always seemed to bring my family together. It was the one time throughout the year that, despite all of our differnces, we would all be able to sit at one table and enjoy each other's company, catching up on how life has been the other 364 days of the year. Some of my fondest memories as a child were during this time of year. Since we would travel to Austin, TX for the holiday, and being a child from the southern most point of Texas, surrounded by nothing more than mesquite, cactus and dirt, seeing a cityscape was such an breath of fresh air, not only literally, but to the eyes as well.
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