The History Of Thanksgiving
In the United States in 1621, in present day Massachusetts, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn
harvest feast prompted by a good harvest that is acknowledged today as one of the first
Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries,
days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states.
It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President
Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each
November.
Thanksgiving proclamations were made by church leaders in New
England until 1682, and then by both state and church leaders until
after the American Revolution.
During the revolutionary period, political influences affected the
issuance of Thanksgiving proclamations. Various proclamations were made
by royal governors, John Hancock, General George Washington, and the Continental Congress,
each giving thanks to God for events favorable to their causes.
As President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the
first nationwide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November
26th 1789, "As a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by
acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of
Almighty God".
In modern day the President of the United States, in addition to issuing a proclamation, will "pardon" a turkey, which spares the bird's life and ensures that it will spend the duration of its life roaming freely on farmland.
On
this special day, many will be preparing for a grand feast with loved ones and friends around the Thanksgiving table. At
Alfies we offer a superb range of both vintage and antique pieces to make sure you have the best dressed table around, along with the perfect Thanksgiving gifts.
 |
| 1930s Native American advertising poster, offered by Dodo |
No comments:
Post a Comment