Why We Celebrate Thanksgiving
By Avery P.
Imagine being a young explorer, sailing across the high seas to a new uncharted territory. This is what the Pilgrims probably felt like when crossing the ocean to America. Their ship, the Mayflower, landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts on November 11, 1620. The first year was long and arduous. However, in 1621 the Pilgrims had their first successful harvest. This is where the story starts.
In the year 1621, ninety Wampanoag Indians and fifty-two Pilgrims joined together and celebrated the harvest (Onion Et Al, “Thanksgiving 2024”). They had a large autumnal feast that lasted three days, much longer than the modern Thanksgiving celebration. They ate many of the same foods we did. For example, they consumed pumpkins, potatoes, fish, and shellfish. The fish and shellfish is what most historians believe was served, though it is not a food we consume at Thanksgiving (Onion Et Al, “What Was Eaten”). Even though this is credited as the first Thanksgiving, it was not considered a national holiday until more than two hundred years later.
The holiday started out as a regional observance in New England. It became a time of fasting and quiet reflection. In addition, the government would proclaim a Thanksgiving celebration at irregular intervals. During the American Revolution, Congress announced that one or more days would be designated for giving thanks. New York became one of the first states to make it an annual holiday (National Archives Museum).
Americans have author Sarah Josepha Hale to give courtesy to for Thanksgiving being a national holiday. For over three decades of her career, Hale lobbied for the celebration to be celebrated every year by Americans. Abraham Lincoln decided to make it a holiday in an attempt to unite a war-weary country. Even though Lincoln was not the first person to proclaim it a holiday, he did set a precedent for the holiday to be on the last Thursday (National Archives Museum)
Until the Great Depression, this custom was in effect. In 1939, Thanksgiving fell on the last day of the month, and fearing for the economy and the holiday shopping season, President Roosevelt put into effect what he called Franksgiving (Onion Et Al, “Thanksgiving 2024”). This proclaimed the holiday on the second to last Thursday of the month. This was met with much opposition, and he changed it back to the last Thursday of the month.
Many traditions have come from the making of this celebration. For example, the Macy's Day Parade is a widely watched program started in 1924 (Onion Et Al, “Thanksgiving 2024”). In addition, Thanksgiving is a time of family and fun! Many generations come together this time of year and spend quality time together. In conclusion, Americans have past presidents and other important people to thank for this national holiday. We can use this time to be thankful and look at the amazing gifts that God has given us.
Columns: 🗓️Seasonal 🔎Informational
Avery P. lives in Tennessee with her parents and three siblings. She has been a student at NorthStar for three years. This is her second year writing for the Navigator. After high school, Avery plans to attend college and earn a degree in education.