Thanksgiving: Food, Activities and Decorations

Featured Article History of Thanksgiving Day Though the history of a "thanksgiving day" can be traced back to 1789 when George Washington declared Thursday, November 26th as a day when "we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks . . ." there was no national agreement on a day for the event. Prior to that, from 1777 to 1783, Thanksgiving Day, by Congressional mandate, was celebrated in December. After a five-year break with no celebration, Washington's proclamation revived the holiday and moved it to November. Other Presidents declared various days of Thanksgiving and one, James Madison, actually declared two in the year 1815; however, none of these occasions were in the fall of the year. Thanksgiving Day Becomes a National Holiday The idea of a national day of Thanksgiving did not occur again until 1863. President Lincoln, following decisive wins by the Union armies at Gettysburg and Vicksburg in the summer of that year, issued a declaration making the fourth Thursday in November, a National Day of Thanksgiving. Even at that late date, the holiday was not universally accepted, particularly in the South, where it was viewed as another Yankee event that further eroded their way of life. By the late nineteenth century, however, the New England harvest festival, which evolved into Thanksgiving Day, was celebrated nationwide. History of Thanksgiving Day			Blogs
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