When was the first Thanksgiving? The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621. Although there are several accounts as to where the first celebration took place, the most well-known version describes the inaugural Thanksgiving as a three-day pilgrim celebration that took place in 1621 at the Plymouth Colony (now Plymouth, Massachusetts). Most traditional historians recognize this as the first American Thanksgiving feast. Over 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring the last Thursday in November as a day to give thanks. It wasn’t until 1941 that congress made Thanksgiving an official national holiday. Why is there a presidential pardoning for a turkey? Every year since 1947, a ceremony known as “The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation” has been conducted at The White House a few days before Thanksgiving. During the ceremony, the current president is presented with a live turkey. The commander-in-chief does not eat the turkey; instead, he “pardons” the bird and spares it from being slaughtered. After being pardoned, the turkey gets to live out its days on a farm. History of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Macy’s has put on a parade every Thanksgiving since 1924. The tradition of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 in New York City. The parade was originally known as Macy’s Christmas Parade and was created to help spur the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was put together by Macy’s employees and featured animals from the Central Park zoo. These days, giant floating balloons are the parade’s primary feature. In the modern era, it is estimated that about 3 million people attend the parade in person each year and that 44 million more watch it on TV. Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year. Thanksgiving day is the busiest travel day of the year. The American Automobile Association (AAA) has estimated that over 42 million Americans travel 50 miles or more by car over the holiday weekend. Another 4 million people fly to visit their loved ones for the holiday. Thanksgiving then and now. Thanksgiving dinner hasn’t changed much over the years. The food eaten at the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621 was not too different from our modern standard. The pilgrims’ meal consisted of turkey, venison, waterfowl, lobster, fish, clams, pumpkin, squash, berries, and fruit. Aside from the seafood, most of these foods are still staples of our present-day Thanksgiving dinners. Why do Americans eat a lot of turkey? While there is no official reason why turkey is the quintessential main dish used in Thanksgiving dinners, it was likely the most plentiful type of meat in Plymouth Colony in 1621. We’ve carried on the tradition of eating Turkey for Thanksgiving dinner ever since. According to the National Turkey Federation, over 95% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving. Around 280 million turkeys are sold during the weeks leading up to the holiday. Why cranberries? Cranberries are more than just a side dish. They are one of only three fruits considered to be native to North America. Indigenous Americans were the first to reap the many benefits of cranberries. In addition to eating them, the red juice from cranberries was used as a dye for clothing, rugs, and blankets. They also included cranberries in medicine to treat arrow wounds and other ailments. Native Americans believed in the medicinal use of cranberries long before scientists discovered their health benefits. Nowadays, cranberries are an essential side dish in our Thanksgiving feasts. The official thanksgiving postage stamp. In 2001, the U. S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday. The stamp was designed by artist Margaret Cusack to resemble traditional folk-art needlework. The intention behind the stamp’s creation was to commemorate the tradition of being thankful for the abundance of goods we enjoy in America. What is the wishbone tradition? Turkeys’ wishbones are commonly used in a good-luck tradition on Thanksgiving. Usually, the practice consists of two people tugging on either end of the brittle bone while silently making a wish until it breaks. It is said that whoever wins the larger piece will have their wish granted.
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