Thanksgiving: A Short and Simple History

Celebrations regarded as “Thanksgivings” took place in Texas, Florida, and Canada in the late 16^th century. A 1619 charter in Jamestown, Virginia declared the necessity for an annual Thanksgiving. Although there were prior Thanksgivings, the pilgrims in Plymouth Colony celebrated what is considered the “First Thanksgiving” in 1621. This was more like the fifth Thanksgiving. The reason this Thanksgiving receives the attention is probably because two primary sources survived, thinks to William Bradford and Edward Winslow, so we actually know some details, while we know very little about the other Thanksgivings.    
 
Thanksgiving in Plymouth Colony involved 53 pilgrims, about 100 Native Americans and three days of feasting. The ingredients consisted of deer, various birds including wild turkeys, fish, eel, corn, pumpkin, cranberries, and whatever fruits and vegetables they acquired from the harvest.
 
In some ways, today’s version of Thanksgiving remained quite similar to the “First Thanksgiving.” The men helped with the hunting and gathering, while the women prepared the food for consumption. The menu included turkey as well as local, seasonal, and traditional dishes. Besides celebrating the harvest and giving thanks, the feasts purpose included soothing rocky diplomatic relationships between the colonists and the Native Americans, similar to spending time with in-laws and extended family today.     
 
Thanksgivings were not celebrated annually, but rather religious leaders and early American presidents declared a Thanksgiving when they felt it necessary. George Washington became the first American president to declare a Thanksgiving to be held November 26, 1789.  In 1863 Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated the last Thursday in November. In an effort to extend the holiday shopping season and boost the economy, Franklin Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday in November. Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October, Liberia celebrates on the first Thursday in November, the Norfolk Islands celebrate the last Wednesday in November, and Japan celebrates annually on November 23. Having a harvest feast, or dinner to celebrate being grateful for abundance probably happened long before people colonized the United States of America, but the spanning influence concerning how the holiday is celebrated internationally cannot be denied.