HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING

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HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING

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HOW DID WE GET THANKSGIVING?

• The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on
  December 11, 1620.
• Their first winter was devastating.
• Governor William Bradford called for a day of
  fasting and prayer.

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Cont

• Soon after, they had a huge rainfall and he
  designated November 29th as a day of
  thanksgiving.
• However, it didn't become an annual event until
  1863.

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SARAH JOSEPH HALE

• Today's annual Thanksgiving holiday is largely
  due to the efforts of Sarah Joseph Hale.
• She was also the editor of Boston Ladies'
  Magazine and later Godey's Lady's Book.

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• In each of these magazines she would write
  editorials every November stating her opinion
  that Thanksgiving should become a national
  holiday.
• She also wrote letters to the governors of all
  the states and territories.

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PRESIDENT LINCOLN

• It was in 1863, after President Lincoln had
  proclaimed a day of thanksgiving in celebration
  of the victory of the North during the Civil War,
  that Sarah Joseph Hale wrote a letter to the
  President requesting "...to have the day of our
  annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed
  Union Festival..." which would no longer be
  forgotten or overlooked.

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• Her request was granted on October 3 when Lincoln
  declared that the last Thursday of November 1863
  be proclaimed a celebration.

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THANKSGIVING BECOMES A HOLIDAY!

• In 1864, Lincoln once again proclaimed the final
  Thursday in November as a national Thanksgiving
  celebration.
• Unfortunately, he was assassinated before any
  other proclamations were made, but the presidents
  who followed have honored the precedent he set
  and a proclamation has been made each year since.

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THE FIRST THANKSGIVING FEAST
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PREPARATION

• In July 1623. The women of the colony spent many
  days preparing for the feast.
• Indians brought wild turkeys and venison.
• The men of the colony brought geese, ducks, and
  fish.

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• The feast did include fish, berries, watercress,
  lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.
• But it is unlikely that the first feast included
  pumkin pie.

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What key has legs and can't open doors?
A Turkey.
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Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken's day off.