Why Do Americans Celebrate Thanksgiving?
Summary
TLDRThanksgiving, celebrated on the third Thursday of November in the U.S., has roots dating back to 1621 when Pilgrims held a harvest feast in Plymouth. This festival, originally a communal celebration with Native Americans, transformed into a national holiday through proclamations by presidents over the centuries, particularly under Lincoln in 1863. Despite its festive reputation, the holiday is contentious for many Native Americans, who see it as a reminder of colonial displacement. As such, Thanksgiving embodies both a celebration of gratitude and a complex historical legacy.
Takeaways
- 😀 Thanksgiving is celebrated on the third Thursday of November in the United States.
- 🍂 The holiday has roots in the 1621 harvest celebration by the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
- 🦃 The first Thanksgiving involved sharing a feast with the Wampanoag Native Americans, featuring cod, lobster, and deer.
- 📜 Thanksgiving was proclaimed a national holiday by President George Washington in 1789.
- ⚖️ The holiday became a federal holiday in 1863 under President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.
- 📅 Franklin D. Roosevelt standardized Thanksgiving's timing in 1939.
- 🙏 Thanksgiving is seen by many as a day to express gratitude to God for blessings.
- 🚫 Some Native Americans oppose Thanksgiving, viewing it as a celebration of colonial oppression and displacement.
- 🥳 The holiday features traditional foods such as turkey, stuffing, and vegetables, though this evolved over time.
- 🗣️ Discussions around Thanksgiving continue, with varying perspectives on its significance and historical implications.
Q & A
What is Thanksgiving and when is it celebrated in the United States?
-Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated in the United States on the third Thursday of November.
What are the origins of Thanksgiving?
-Thanksgiving originated in 1621 when Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts, held a feast to celebrate their harvest and invited the Wampanoag Native Americans to join.
What foods were part of the original Thanksgiving feast?
-The original feast included foods such as cod, lobster, deer, and goose, rather than the turkey and stuffing commonly associated with modern celebrations.
When was Thanksgiving officially recognized as a national holiday?
-Thanksgiving was officially recognized as a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it during the Civil War.
What role did President Franklin D. Roosevelt play in the establishment of Thanksgiving?
-President Franklin D. Roosevelt solidified the modern timing and dates of Thanksgiving in 1939, addressing previous controversies regarding its celebration.
What is the significance of Thanksgiving for Americans today?
-Thanksgiving serves as a time for Americans to gather with family and friends, express gratitude, and celebrate culinary traditions.
What are some contemporary views regarding Thanksgiving from Native Americans?
-Many Native Americans oppose the celebration of Thanksgiving, viewing it as a commemoration of the displacement and suffering of their ancestors due to colonial actions.
How did Thanksgiving celebrations change over the years?
-Thanksgiving celebrations evolved from a three-day harvest festival in 1621 to a national holiday with specific traditions, including the modern feast featuring turkey and stuffing.
What prompted President George Washington to declare Thanksgiving?
-President George Washington made a proclamation to celebrate Thanksgiving in 1789, recognizing the day as a time for giving thanks.
Why is Thanksgiving compared to Christmas and Halloween in American culture?
-Thanksgiving is regarded with equal importance as Christmas and Halloween, as it embodies family gatherings, gratitude, and cultural traditions in American society.
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