History of Thanksgiving: When and How to Celebrate it?

How did Thanksgiving start?

Thanksgiving traditions date back to the fall of 1621, when the Native Americans celebrated the year's harvest with feasts, games, and dances with the early settlers. The story goes that the early settlers were a group of English protestants, called Puritans, who settled on the east coast. The native Americans and settlers made a pact to protect each other from other foreign tribes.

One day, the native Americans heard gunshots from the English camp and mistook it for war. However, later on, the natives discovered that the settlers were only hunting for the harvest celebrations. The native Americans joined hands and thus began the annual Thanksgiving festivity.

Debates surrounding Thanksgiving

Many debates and myths revolve around Thanksgiving, which has been the talking point for critics over the years. The discussion on the date of the first celebrations & cultural appropriations in recent years has all put Thanksgiving in a bad light. Most Americans believe that October 1621 is when people started celebrating Thanksgiving, whereas some believe it was July 1623.

Critics have also argued that the way Thanksgiving is celebrated and depicted in schools and plays is a misinterpretation of Native American tribes and that they use inaccurate historical references.

When is Thanksgiving celebrated?

Thanksgiving is celebrated every fourth Thursday of the year. This year, it will be celebrated on the 23rd of November.

Is Thanksgiving a Federal Holiday?

Thanksgiving is one of the 11 federal holidays in the US. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared every fourth Thursday of November a federal holiday to be celebrated as Thanksgiving. All schools and government offices are closed on this day, and most federal employees are given an off.

How is Thanksgiving celebrated?

Thanksgiving traditions have evolved over the years to take a simpler and more modern flair, with families preferring to stay indoors and enjoy time with family. Parades, presidential turkey pardons, food, and football games are all major events everyone looks forward to. Everyone invites friends and family to the house, and the day is signed off late into the evening with the Thanksgiving dinner and beer.

The Thanksgiving Feast

The Thanksgiving meal is the main highlight of the day. Turkey takes center stage at the dining table. Families take great pride in serving a perfectly cooked turkey for all the guests. Most believe a perfectly cooked bird is when the skin is lightly crisp and the meat is moist and tender. It is stuffed with cornbread and onions to make it a complete meal.

Mashed potatoes are prepared to give the celebrations a traditional touch. Gravy and cranberry sauce are the preferred accompaniment to mashed potatoes. Some families have recipes that have been in the kitchen for generations. Pumpkin pie is another traditional dessert served to end the day on a sweet note. The feast usually extends to the breakfast of the next day after Thanksgiving.

Continuing the spirit of Thanksgiving 2022, it’s time to rejoice in the festivities again this year. Whether you live in the United States or travel here, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the fun. As Thanksgiving Day 2023 approaches, we must understand the history behind the festivals we celebrate. The festival signifies gratitude and teaches us to be together in each other’s joys and sorrows, just like our ancestors did in the seventeenth century.