Hey all! I figured since we just celebrated Thanksgiving, I'd try to answer a question that's been on my mind: Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving when we do? I looked into the issue a bit online and pulled from a paper I wrote a while back about Thanksgiving.
It’s a commonly known fact that what we now call Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims and Indians in Plymouth in the fall of 1621. According to Edward Winslow, an attendee of the event, there were 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims present at this first feast.
The same group had a second Thanksgiving two years later, and from that time on, days of fasting or thanksgiving to God were common in other New England settlements - settlements that were founded mainly by Puritans and other devout Christian groups. These days weren’t necessarily an annual occurrence, however, and didn’t really resemble our modern holiday.
It’s a commonly known fact that what we now call Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims and Indians in Plymouth in the fall of 1621. According to Edward Winslow, an attendee of the event, there were 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims present at this first feast.
The same group had a second Thanksgiving two years later, and from that time on, days of fasting or thanksgiving to God were common in other New England settlements - settlements that were founded mainly by Puritans and other devout Christian groups. These days weren’t necessarily an annual occurrence, however, and didn’t really resemble our modern holiday.
It wasn't until 1789 that we had a nation-wide day of thanksgiving. It was in this year that George Washington issued the first official Thanksgiving proclamation, calling the nation to recognize a day of thanksgiving.
While this was a one-time occurrence, it was repeated by at least two other presidents: John Adams - in 1798 and 1799 - and James Madison - in 1815. In 1817, New York was the first of several states to officially adopt an annual Thanksgiving holiday. The other states that soon joined had their celebration on different days.
While this was a one-time occurrence, it was repeated by at least two other presidents: John Adams - in 1798 and 1799 - and James Madison - in 1815. In 1817, New York was the first of several states to officially adopt an annual Thanksgiving holiday. The other states that soon joined had their celebration on different days.
Ten years later, a prolific writer Sarah Josepha Hale started a campaign to establish an annual Thanksgiving holiday across the entire country. She continued working at that goal for thirty-six years until Abraham Lincoln finally established an official Thanksgiving holiday in 1863. This holiday was to be held on the final Thursday in November every year.
This tradition was held until Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the date to the third Thursday in November. He was trying to spur retail sales by providing more time for companies to advertise. This breach of tradition was not accepted well, however, and three years later – in 1941 – Roosevelt signed an order moving the date back to the traditional fourth Thursday in November. If you want a little more detail on that, read this article. It's really interesting.
And that answers the question as to why we celebrate Thanksgiving when we do! I hope you enjoyed that or learned something... I did! Have a great week, and enjoy the beginning of the Christmas season!
~ Anna
And that answers the question as to why we celebrate Thanksgiving when we do! I hope you enjoyed that or learned something... I did! Have a great week, and enjoy the beginning of the Christmas season!
~ Anna
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