Thanksgiving: A brief history and look at traditions

As Americans gather around dinner tables this November, the tradition of Thanksgiving brings families together in celebration of gratitude and unity.

There are numerous traditions and customs that people partake in during Thanksgiving.

The first tradition dates all the way back to November of 1621. This is often considered when the first “Thanksgiving” event was held. The Pilgrims invited the Wampanoag Indians to join them in a feast to celebrate a successful harvest.

Thanksgiving, as a formal holiday, was not around in early American history. The first day for celebrating Thanksgiving was not repeated until President George Washington proclaimed November 26 as a National Day of Thanksgiving and prayer.

This lasted until 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln designated the last Thursday in November for honoring Thanksgiving. The holiday was officially set in stone in the 1940’s when President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.

Regarding traditions, most people consider the basic meal on Thanksgiving as being turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pumpkin pie for dessert. This wasn’t always the case though as the Pilgrims likely ate things like venison, fowl, corn, plums, vegetables, and fish.

Another tradition that has changed over the years, besides eating, is how the day is spent by everyone. The first Thanksgiving was actually a three-day celebration and the Wampanoag tribe took part in the celebration.

There were many games that the pilgrims and the Wampanoag Tribe took part in including the “pin game.” A game taught by the Wampanoag children in which the objective was to toss a ring on a pin. Other children games included hide-and-seek and leap frog. Competition based games were also played amongst the adults including target shooting, log throwing and tug-of-war.

Others participated in dancing, singing and exercising activities.

Today, many Americans lounge around the sofa or prepare food the morning of Thanksgiving. Whether it’s preparing fruit salad, dressing, or heating up the turkey, people are bound to have the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade playing in the background.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade initially was called the Macy’s Christmas Parade and was organized by employees of the R.H. Macy and Company Store in Herald Square. It has since grown into a national sensation.

Watching football is another staple of Thanksgiving. Two teams that have been shown traditionally on Thanksgiving Day including the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys, with both hosting an opponent. The Lions kickoff typically before noon and is followed in the mid-afternoon by the Cowboys.

This year, the Lions will play the Bears while the Cowboys will face off against the Giants.

Another tradition is that many folks end up getting into the spirit of giving back by volunteering at local food banks.

Social media has also transformed the way people share their celebrations. Today, some students at universities celebrate “Friendsgiving.” This is a way for students to celebrate Thanksgiving with their friends in lieu of having Thanksgiving with their families. Sometimes these celebrations occur before Thanksgiving or on Thanksgiving Day.

Finally, a huge tradition that has changed since the first Thanksgiving Day involved “Black Friday.” That’s what truly marks the beginning of the holiday spirit as folks from all over the nation hoard department stores for the best deals on items for the Christmas holiday.

Even that has changed to some extent as stores already offer Black Friday deals and with the internet, many start their gift buying by shopping online.

Today, Thanksgiving’s core message of gratitude remains timeless, bringing people together across the nation in celebration of family, food and community.