US Thanksgiving History & Traditions
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:19 amUS Thanksgiving History
In 1621, a Thanksgiving time was celebrated, by the Pilgrims, who travelled on the ship The Mayflower and landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, after their first harvest.
In 1777, the new United States of America, celebrated it's first Thanksgiving. General George Washington and his army marked the occasion on their way to Valley Forge, as instructed by the Continental Congress.
When George Washington became President in 1789 he declared November 26 as a national day of thanksgiving and prayer. "... appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness."
For some time in the 1800s Thanksgiving celebrations ceased and then in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln reinstated the tradition. "I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe that last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."
Traditions
Food - At this time of thanksgiving people gather their family and friends near to them and have a feast of turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pie.
Cornucopias - English farm workers had a tradition of filling a curved goat's horn with fruit and grain to give thanks for their harvest having been a good one. This horn was called a Horn of Plenty or a Cornucopia.
In 1621, a Thanksgiving time was celebrated, by the Pilgrims, who travelled on the ship The Mayflower and landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, after their first harvest.
In 1777, the new United States of America, celebrated it's first Thanksgiving. General George Washington and his army marked the occasion on their way to Valley Forge, as instructed by the Continental Congress.
When George Washington became President in 1789 he declared November 26 as a national day of thanksgiving and prayer. "... appointing and commanding the observation of THURSDAY the twenty-eight day of NOVEMBER next, as a day of solemn THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify to their gratitude to GOD for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience of his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness."
For some time in the 1800s Thanksgiving celebrations ceased and then in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln reinstated the tradition. "I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe that last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."
Traditions
Food - At this time of thanksgiving people gather their family and friends near to them and have a feast of turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pie.
Cornucopias - English farm workers had a tradition of filling a curved goat's horn with fruit and grain to give thanks for their harvest having been a good one. This horn was called a Horn of Plenty or a Cornucopia.
