It’s almost my favorite time of year — Thanksgiving! I can already smell the pies and cakes cooling on the counter, the turkey filled to the brim with cornbread stuffing and the barbecue cranberry meatballs slowly simmering in the crockpot. And of course, the grand finale: the annual family argument! But seriously, what is it about Thanksgiving that turns it into a high-stakes holiday? There’s this unique blend of stress and the almost desperate need to spend it with people we might not necessarily enjoy. There are endless studies on holiday stress, but what’s the real story behind the family feast?
Did you know spending Thanksgiving with family started in the 1621 harvest feast where Pilgrims and Wampanoag Native Americans shared a meal to celebrate their successful harvest? By 1863, the communal celebration evolved into a national holiday declared by President Abraham Lincoln. Years later, in 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt solidified it as an annual secular event centered on family gatherings and gratitude.
Did you know in 1939 Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up a week to extend the holiday shopping season? There’s nothing more powerful than the almighty dollar that could move an entire holiday. Moving Thanksgiving up a week wasn’t only controversial, it also caused mass confusion. To prevent any further confusion on the actual date of the family feast, Congress in 1941 officially established Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November.
Did you know historians believe the “First Thanksgiving” was much different from the modern-day Thanksgiving meal millions know today? Historians believe the feast consisted of a mix of foods like venison, fowl, corn, beans and squash, but there was no turkey, pumpkin or sweet potato pie as we associate with the holiday now. So, when did turkey come into the picture?
Did you know that wild turkeys were once plentiful across North America, especially in New England — the very land where the Pilgrims settled? While there’s no concrete evidence to confirm that turkey graced the table at the first Thanksgiving, it’s hard to imagine it wasn’t at least part of the feast. By the 19th century, turkey had already become a popular dish for festive occasions in the U.S., thanks to its impressive size and the fact that it was easily domesticated.
Did you know that Sarah Josepha Hale, the influential editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book — a popular women’s magazine in the 19th century — is credited with turning turkey into the iconic symbol of Thanksgiving? A passionate advocate for making Thanksgiving a national holiday, Hale played a pivotal role in shaping the holiday’s traditions. In 1827, she published a turkey recipe in her magazine, firmly establishing the bird as the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving feast. Through her writing, Hale elevated turkey to star status, alongside other beloved dishes like stuffing and pie.
Beyond the history, beyond the turkey and stuffing, Thanksgiving is about gathering. Whether you’re seated at the table with family members you adore — or perhaps, with a few you’d rather not spend time with — it’s a reminder to pause and reflect. A reminder that, despite the stress and the occasional family squabble, we’re all connected by something bigger than the meal itself. It’s the people around us, the moments of gratitude and the shared experience of being together.
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