

It wasn't until the diary made its way to the hands of magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale in the 1800s that things began to take shape.

And while it's reported that George Washington called for a "national thanksgiving" on the last Thursday of November that year, a declaration like that essentially amounted to a nice, thoughtful idea. Bradford's manuscript with the actual accounts of that first Thanksgiving had yet to be published, so there was little public interest in the entire thing. Library of Congress How did Thanksgiving become an official holiday?īy 1789, the "thanksgiving" tradition was still not a holiday. That sure makes for a very happy Thanksgiving!Īnother idealized painting of "The First Thanksgiving" by J.L.G. Knowing more about the roots of thanks in the tradition should increase your own gratitude around this season too, and that might have you Instagramming about it all too. Here we share what you'll want to know from his manuscript to bring extra meaning to your Thanksgiving recipes, Thanksgiving desserts, Thanksgiving crafts, and even your turkey sandwiches the day or two or three or five after the holiday itself. In Of Plymouth Plantation, a manuscript he wrote, we learn about a fateful feast from the fall of 1621 along with his journey to the New World, settling in Plymouth, and other events from that period. Most of what we know about Thanksgiving that was recorded from way back when comes from William Bradford, the governor of Plymouth, Massachusetts, at the time. If you can remember your elementary school history class, you probably remember some of the information, but the historical details of what is now a federal holiday might be a bit fuzzy for you by now and recalling them today in 2022 when inquiring little ones ask might be challenging. But why exactly do we celebrate the holiday, and why do we celebrate it on the fourth Thursday of November specifically? We watch the Macy's Thanksgiving parade, then feast on roast turkey and Thanksgiving pies, then follow that up with more couch time.
