Thanksgiving: 6 Facts

1. The first Thanksgiving as a November national holiday was in 1863.

Throughout the history of the colonization of North America, settlers had held days of thanksgiving. The day in 1863 is remembered because it started the annual November event, rather than being merely a day set aside for thanksgiving.

2. Early days of thanksgiving by colonists in the Americas were often held to rejoice over surviving difficulties.

Having food despite a drought, surviving a cold winter, or experiencing a military victory were all reasons to hold a day of thanksgiving. 

3. Fasting may have been part of thanksgiving celebrations.

It’s unclear from what’s available on the free internet if fasting was part of days of thanksgiving, if there was a day of fasting followed by a day of feasting, or if days of fasting and days of thanksgiving were common, but separate, occurrences for European colonists. 

4. Thomas Jefferson didn’t declare a day of thanksgiving.

When Jefferson was president, there was no annual national Thanksgiving holiday. Each president had to issue a proclamation if they wanted there to be a Thanksgiving holiday. 

Because Thanksgiving was closely tied to religious observances, Jefferson didn’t think the government should have any say in if or when a day of thanksgiving was held.

5. Sarah J. Hale wanted Thanksgiving to be a national holiday.

Sarah Hale thought a Thanksgiving holiday would connect families who were separated by distance. She may have also thought that a national Thanksgiving holiday would help the nation heal from the Civil War.

6. Turkey for Thanksgiving has more to do with economics than anything else.

Turkeys, even wild turkeys, tend to be larger and have more meat than most other fowl used for food. That means that a turkey can feed a lot of people, but other forms of avian protein may need several birds. 

Turkey eggs are seldom used for food, either. So, eating a turkey won’t prevent future food from being accessible in the way that eating a goose or chicken would. 

Since a turkey will feed many people with the loss of only one animal and eating a turkey has little impact on future food production, turkeys are an economical choice for feeding many people.