Thanksgiving (United States)

Thanksgiving (United States). Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated primarily in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November. It originated as a harvest festival and is rooted in English traditions dating to the Protestant Reformation. The modern American holiday is often traced to a 1621 celebration at Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts, and it was established as a national day of thanks through the efforts of figures like Sarah Josepha Hale and proclamations by presidents including Abraham Lincoln.

History

The historical antecedents of Thanksgiving include religious days of thanksgiving observed in Europe and harvest festivals practiced by Native American peoples. The event often cited as a forerunner occurred in 1621, when Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony shared a harvest meal with the Wampanoag people, including the leader Massasoit. Similar days of thanks were proclaimed sporadically by colonial governments, such as the Virginia Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress issued national thanksgiving proclamations. The campaign to make it a unified national holiday was championed by magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale, who petitioned multiple presidents. President Abraham Lincoln finally heeded her call in 1863, amid the American Civil War, proclaiming a national Thanksgiving Day to foster unity.

Traditions and celebrations

Modern Thanksgiving traditions center on gathering with family and friends for a large meal. A common practice is attending religious services, reflecting the holiday's origins. Parades are a major public celebration, with the most famous being Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, which features giant balloons, performances, and concludes with the arrival of Santa Claus to herald the Christmas season. Many communities hold their own local parades. Another prominent tradition is watching American football games, with the National Football League hosting multiple matches on Thanksgiving Day. The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have hosted annual games for decades. The day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season with major retail sales.

Food and meals

The Thanksgiving meal is a central ritual, typically featuring a large roasted turkey as the centerpiece. Traditional side dishes often include stuffing or dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce, and various vegetable dishes such as green bean casserole and creamed corn. Popular desserts include pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie. Regional variations exist; for example, in the Southern United States, dishes like cornbread dressing or sweet potato casserole are common, while in Baltimore, sauerkraut might accompany the turkey. The President of the United States participates in the annual tradition of the "National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation," pardoning a turkey in a ceremony at the White House.

Date and proclamations

Thanksgiving is federally designated as the fourth Thursday in November. This date was fixed by law through a joint resolution of the United States Congress in 1941, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Prior to this, the date was set by presidential proclamation, often as the last Thursday in November. Roosevelt had attempted to move the holiday to the third Thursday in November in 1939 to extend the Christmas shopping season during the Great Depression, a controversial move sometimes called "Franksgiving." Annually, the sitting president issues a Thanksgiving proclamation, a tradition begun in earnest by George Washington and solidified by Abraham Lincoln. Governors of individual states also issue proclamations for their jurisdictions.

Controversies and criticism

Thanksgiving has been the subject of significant controversy and criticism, particularly regarding its historical narrative. Many Native Americans and their allies observe the day as a National Day of Mourning, highlighting the subsequent centuries of conflict, displacement, and cultural assimilation that followed European colonization. Critics argue the traditional "First Thanksgiving" story presents a mythologized and sanitized version of history that obscures the impacts of colonialism. The holiday also faces criticism for promoting consumerism, particularly through its association with Black Friday shopping, and for the environmental and ethical concerns related to the industrial-scale raising of turkeys. Debates also occur around the inclusion of historical context in school curricula and public commemorations.

Category:Thanksgiving (United States)