Thanksgiving History and Traditions

From eating turkey to baking pumpkin pie to the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City to watching football, Thanksgiving is noted for so many beautiful traditions!

In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. But did you know that seven other nations also celebrate an official Thanksgiving Day? Those nations are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, Liberia, and Switzerland.

History of Thanksgiving in America

According to most historians, the Pilgrims never observed an annual Thanksgiving feast. In the year 1621, they did gather together with their Native America neighbors, the Wampanoag, to celebrate a feast near Plymouth, Massachusetts, giving thanks for the first harvest. But this feast that most people consider the very first Thanksgiving was never repeated. Most Pilgrims observed a day of thanksgiving with prayer and fasting, not feasting. Even though this harvest feast was never repeated and was never called Thanksgiving by the Pilgrims of 1621, it has become the model for the traditional Thanksgiving celebrations in the United States today.

Turkey and the Trimmings

There is no real evidence of turkey being served at the first Thanksgiving nor at the others that followed in the 17th century. We learn that "turkey" was the name used to describe all kinds of fowl at the time. Venison is mentioned in many historical accounts of the first holiday menu, as well as corn, boiled pumpkin and squash, berries, oysters, lobsters, and other shellfish. Most modern Thanksgiving dinners incorporate pumpkins in the traditional pie that is the dessert served on this day, and berries in the form of cranberry sauce.

Timeline of Thanksgiving in America

* 1541 - The Spanish explorer, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, led a thanksgiving communion celebration at the Palo Duro Canyon, West Texas.
* 1565 - Pedro Menendez de Aviles and 800 settlers gathered for a meal with the Timucuan Indians in the Spanish colony of St. Augustine, Florida.
* 1621 - Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated a harvest feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
* 1630 - Settlers observed the first Thanksgiving of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England on July 8, 1630.
* 1777 - George Washington and his army on their way to Valley Forge, stopped in blistering weather in open fields to observe the first Thanksgiving of the new United States of America.
* 1789 - President Washington declared November 26, 1789, as a national day of "thanksgiving and prayer."
* 1800s - The annual presidential thanksgiving proclamations ceased for 45 years in the early 1800s.
* 1863 - President Abraham Lincoln resumed the tradition of Thanksgiving proclamations in 1863. Since this date, Thanksgiving has been observed annually in the United States.
* 1941 - President Roosevelt established the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.

Modern Thanksgiving Traditions

Most of this holiday's traditions today center around family, food, and football! Many families have developed their own rituals to stave off their appetites as the smell of turkey fills the house. These traditions may include games of touch football, helping to cook and serve Thanksgiving dinner at soup kitchens or homeless shelters, gathering together to watch parades or football games on television, and preparing snacks and appetizers while waiting for dinner. When the turkey finally comes out of the oven, everyone gathers at the table to share the feast. Grace is said and often everyone at the table tells the others what he or she is especially thankful for.

 

Thanksgiving Quotations

George Washington in his first Presidential Proclamation -- October 3, 1789
"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor."

Samuel Adams, Father of the American Revolution -- November 1, 1777
"It is therefore recommended ... to set apart Thursday the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor ..."
(Adopted by the 13 Colonies as the first official Thanksgiving Proclamation)

Abraham Lincoln, during the Civil War -- 1863
"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown."

Theodore Roosevelt -- 1901
"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds."

John Fitzgerald Kennedy:
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

 

 

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thank You God for all the wonderful blessings:
For our daily meals, for clean drinking water.
For sunlight and for the cool breeze.
For flowers and forests; for rivers and lakes and the sea.
For the moon and the stars high in the sky above us.

I'm thankful for my family, my home, and my health.
I'm thankful for my friends, to love and be loved.
I'm thankful for freedom and this land of ours.
I'm thankful to have work and the opportunity to help others.

I'm thankful to be alive and to praise You for all these wonders.
I'm thankful that You gave us Your only Son, who gave His life for us.

On this Thanksgiving Day, I take the opportunity to gives thanks
For the countless other things You provide us with on a daily basis.

 

 

An Iroquois Prayer for Thanksgiving

We return thanks to our mother, the earth, who sustains us. We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water. We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases. We return thanks to the corn, and to her sisters, the beans and squash, which give us life. We return thanks to the bushes and trees, which provide us with fruit. We return thanks to the wind, which, moving the air, has banished diseases. We return thanks to the moon and the stars, which have given us their light when the sun was gone. We return thanks to our grandfather He-no, .., who has given to us his rain. We return thanks to the sun, that he has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye. Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in whom is embodied all goodness, and who directs all things for the good of his children.

 

 

Tips for Planning
Thanksgiving Dinner

Planning Thanksgiving dinner and preparing it can be very stressful, especially if you have a large family or are expecting a large number of guests. In order to make Thanksgiving more enjoyable for yourself as well as your guests, some advance planning and preparation will work wonders. Use these tips to make your holiday a stress-free, memorable occasion

10 Days before Thanksgiving

A week to 10 days before Thanksgiving, prepare your guest list and your menu. If there are any friends or family members you have not yet contacted, do so now to give them and yourself plenty of time to prepare. If any of your guests will be bringing a special dish, add it to your menu.

If you will be cooking turkey, decide upon fresh, frozen, or smoked. Make sure you have room in your refrigerator and oven. If you will be brining your turkey, buy a brining bag and check if you have a roasting pan large enough for the turkey you will be roasting. You can buy an aluminum roasting pan in your grocery store if you do not have a pan that is large enough to hold your turkey.

You should plan on one to one 1/2 pounds per person and even a bit larger if you want plenty of leftovers.

Deciding upon your final menu should be completed at least a week before the big day. Consider the number of people you will be entertaining and if you have children on your guest list, try to plan a couple of special dishes or treats especially for them. While most families have a traditional menu they serve from year to year, try at least one new recipe each year to make things more interesting and to possibly add new traditions to your family celebration.

The Week of Thanksgiving

The week of Thanksgiving is the time to stock up on necessary items from the grocery store. You can make certain items in advance such as bread or rolls and freeze them until Thanksgiving morning. You can also prepare cranberry relish or sauce ahead of time, salad dressing, and certain desserts. Be sure to buy fresh cranberries, sweet potatoes, and stuffing ahead of time to make sure your grocery store does not run out of these items closer to the big day. Also make sure you have supplies such a napkins, cups, etc.

The Days before Thanksgiving

A couple of days prior to Thanksgiving you can prepare a few items in advance to save time on the big day.

Things like cranberry sauce or relish can be stored in your refrigerator for a few days. You may want to cut up onions, celery, and any similar items and store them in plastic ware to save time on Thanksgiving morning.

Make sure you have everything on your shopping list in your kitchen at least 2-3 days before Thanksgiving morning.

If you have children, involve them in the planning. They can help organize games for the younger guests, assist with decorations, and can even help out in the kitchen if you desire. Setting the table is also something children can help with.

If you have purchased a frozen turkey, take it out of the freezer and place it in the refrigerator 3 days prior to cooking to give it plenty of time to thaw. If you will need to iron linens, napkins, etc., do so a couple of days before Thanksgiving to cut down on the amount of work you will have to do the night before the big day. If you are brining your turkey, be sure to do it 12-24 hours before Thanksgiving. The night before Thanksgiving is also the perfect time to bake your pies and refrigerate overnight. You can also set your table and prepare the centerpiece the day before so you can take your time making the table look special without being rushed.

Thanksgiving Morning

On Thanksgiving morning, make sure you have your thawed turkey stuffed (if you are baking it inside the turkey and not in a casserole) and ready to place in the oven. Side dishes should be ready to cook or place in your oven and it would be a good idea to have desserts prepared the night before to save time and frustration on Thanksgiving Day. Any items you have frozen should be taken out of the freezer the night before so they can be heated easily.

With some advance planning and preparation, Thanksgiving can be a stress-free (almost) occasion and you will have plenty of time to enjoy the company of friends and family.