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by Saffron Caudle
THE STORY OF THANKSGIVING WHAT IS THE TRUE MEANING OF THANKSGIVING? Prior to the formal institution of Thanksgiving, harvest festivals had been celebrated for centuries by Native Americans, with colonial services dating back to the late 16th century. The autumn feasts celebrated the harvest of crops after a season of bountiful growth.
As the story goes, it was in the early 1600s when communities of settlers in both Massachusetts and Virginia came together to give thanks for the productivity and continuity of their fields. The most recognized Thanksgiving is that of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts, who feasted for three days with the Wampanoag people in 1621. SOME HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING IN THE UNITED STATES The first national holiday of Thanksgiving was observed for a somewhat different reason than the celebration of the harvest, it was in honor of the creation of the new United States Constitution. In 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation designating November 26, of that year as a “Day of Public Thanksgiving” to recognize the role of providence in creating the new United States and the new federal Constitution.
Washington was in his first term as president, and a young nation had just emerged successfully from the Revolution. Washington called on the people of the United States to PAGE 11
acknowledge “an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” This was the first time Thanksgiving was celebrated under the new Constitution. THANKSGIVING BECOMES A FEDERAL HOLIDAY
Whereas Thanksgiving became a yearly custom in many communities, it was celebrated on different months and days that suited them, it would take some time to become a federal government holiday. Thomas Jefferson and many following presidents felt that a public religious demonstration of devotion was not appropriate for a government holiday in a country based in part on the separation of church and state. While religious thanksgiving services continued, there were no further presidential proclamations marking Thanksgiving until the Civil War of the 1860s. WHY DO WE CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING
For many, celebrating Thanksgiving is all about reflecting on blessings and acknowledging gratitude for our family, friends, or to a higher power. For others, it’s a holiday built upon enjoying delicious food, the Macy’s Day parade, and of course football! DO YOU KNOW WHY THANKSGIVING IS CELEBRATED WITH TURKEY?
Turkey has become the traditional Thanksgiving fare, but did you know that at one time it was a rare treat? During the 1830s, an eight- to ten-pound bird cost a day’s wages! Although much more affordable today, they still remain a celebratory symbol of plentitude.
