The Pilgrims' feast in 1621 is often considered the first Thanksgiving, but there were multiple thanksgiving celebrations in the early American colonies. These were often religious observances rather than feasts.
The first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 lasted for three days. It was more of a communal event with the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people sharing food, playing games, and engaging in activities.
While there is no definitive historical record of the exact menu at the first Thanksgiving, it's likely that turkey was not the centerpiece. Historical accounts suggest that the feast included venison, waterfowl, seafood, corn, beans, squash, and other local produce.
While President Abraham Lincoln is often associated with establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday, it was actually President George Washington who issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789. However, it was not established as an annual holiday at that time.
In 1939, during the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to extend the Christmas shopping season by moving Thanksgiving from the last Thursday in November to the third Thursday. This change faced strong public opposition and confusion, and it was eventually reverted in 1941.
The tradition of the President pardoning a turkey and sparing it from being eaten for Thanksgiving dinner can be traced back to President Harry S. Truman. However, the formal "turkey pardon" ceremony at the White House became more established in the 1980s.
While the American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, Canadians celebrate their Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. The Canadian holiday has different historical roots, and it's not directly connected to the Pilgrims and the Mayflower.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, which started in 1924, was originally called the "Macy's Christmas Parade." It was created as a way to celebrate the Christmas season and attract shoppers to Macy's.
Many cities host Turkey Trot races on Thanksgiving Day, encouraging people to participate in a run or walk before indulging in a big holiday meal. The oldest continually running Turkey Trot is the Buffalo Turkey Trot, which began in 1896.
The tradition of watching football on Thanksgiving can be traced back to the 1870s. The first professional Thanksgiving Day football game took place in 1920 between the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cardinals.