Did you know the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621 featured venison, fowl (like duck and goose), and shellfish, alongside native vegetables such as corn, squash, and beans (Gambino)? This sounds outlandish compared to turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the Civil War (Silverman). The Holiday was created to unify Americans and families across the nation. However, Thanksgiving was not always what it is today. Thanksgiving has an interesting history of creative traditions.
History
Plymouth’s Thanksgiving occurred because the colonists were struggling to hunt for food. Saving the day, 90 Wampanoag appeared at the settlement of 50 colonists, supplying food to the hungry people. For two days, the Wampanoag and the Colonists socialized and celebrated. The Wampanoag brought a surplus of food consisting of fish, eels, shellfish, stews, and vegetables. This Thanksgiving was very informal. Over their time together, they fired guns and ran races. It unified and created peace between the two groups.
Becoming Thanksgiving
In New England, colonists had established “Thanksgivings” as days for thanking God; it was a religious event. The U.S Continental Congress proclaimed a national Thanksgiving upon the enactment of the Constitution. However, the new U.S. Congress left the decision of making Thanksgiving a holiday up to the states. Many Southerners refused it because it was a New England custom, while others disliked the government's involvement in Thanksgiving and its religious affiliations. At this point in history, Thanksgiving caused more division than unity. However, in 1863, Sarah Josepha Hale campaigned for a national Thanksgiving Day to promote unity. Eventually, the President, at the time, Abraham Lincoln, proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday (Silverman).
Creative Traditions
Since then, Thanksgiving has changed from a formal, often religious, day of worship and reflection to a day focused on spending time with loved ones, watching NFL football and/or the Macy’s Day Parade, and getting ready for Black Friday. Modern day Thanksgiving focuses heavily on showing thanks and gratitude for those around us. Less common activities associated with Thanksgiving include volunteering at local food banks, participating in a Turkey Trot, hosting a Friendsgiving, or watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, a controversial holiday in the past, has become an embodiment of American values and worked its way into our hearts.
Information Sources:
Gambino, M. (2024, November 26). What food was served at the first thanksgiving in 1621? Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-food-was-served-at-the-first-thanksgiving-in-1621-511554/
Silverman, D. J. (1998, July 20). Thanksgiving day. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thanksgiving-Day
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