Why is Thanksgiving always celebrated on a Thursday? It’s time for you to think about what dinner will look like with Thanksgiving right around the corner. There are many Thanksgiving dishes, from turkey to pies. Do you know why Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday? You might be curious about how the 3 T’s of Thanksgiving are tied together. Let us explain!
HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING
There’s a good reason behind that and if you want to know why Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, then we have the answer!
The history of thanksgiving dates back to 1621. After the pilgrims reached America, they built their settlements in Plymouth Plantation to grow crops and create community.
After harvests, and other times, prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude are common among all faiths. North American history of Thanksgiving is linked to English customs that date back to the Protestant Reformation. Even though the New England harvest is well before the date of the modern Thanksgiving holiday, it still has elements that remind us of a harvest festival.
However, everything changed in 1789 once a proclamation by President George Washington was issued for all states to designate a Thursday in November, as a day of Public Thanksgiving. The Federal Congress prompted it to unify the colonies.
President George Washington decided to choose Thursday because most of the weekend was spent preparing and observing religious Sabbath traditions, according to him. Friday was out of the picture because Catholics fasted Friday and Monday were both after the Sabbath. This made them inconvenient dates for holidays. The next weekday was chosen because it did not conflict with religious observances.
THANKSGIVING DAY CHANGING DATES FIASCO
Following Washington’s Decree, several subsequent presidents adopted the practice and issued new Thanksgiving dates every year.
In 1827, Sarah Josepha Hale, the “Mother of Thanksgiving,” began a one-woman campaign to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday in order to bring the nation together during tensions between the north and south. She claimed that there was less risk of sickness because everyone had finished their harvest by this point.
Finally, for Sarah and all of us, in 1863, after 40 years of advocating and writing to various presidents, she convinced President Abraham Lincoln and Thanksgiving was proclaimed a national holiday. It wasn’t until after reconstruction, that the day of gratitude was properly observed due to civil war unrest.
In the year 1939, there was a five-week November, which shortened the holiday shopping season. To soothe business owners, Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving by a week, from November 30 to November 23. It was called “Franksgiving” and caused a lot confusion and mayhem. Even though the order was only for Washington, D.C., it affected Thanksgiving celebrations across the country. Some states followed suit and marked Thanksgiving on the 30th, while others stayed true to the 23rd, some celebrated both days, while one state, Mississippi, skipped the holiday entirely.
All uncertainty was resolved in 1941 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill making Thanksgiving a federal holiday observed every fourth Thursday of November. This is the reason Thanksgiving is always observed on Thursdays.
FUN THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS
When it comes to Thanksgiving, there are many different traditions that people like to follow during the holiday. Thanksgiving dinner is the first tradition. Many families host Thanksgiving dinner at their home or invite others to join them.
Another tradition associated with thanksgiving involves watching football all day! We love to cheer on American teams and enjoy nachos as we go! What about carving the turkey? Although this isn’t something everyone does, it can make your Thanksgiving dinner more traditional. Many people take turns carving the turkey, so everyone gets a piece.
While all these Thanksgiving traditions are great, there’s one thing that is more memorable: eating leftovers for the days after thanksgiving. People go into Thanksgiving knowing that they will likely eat leftovers. Let’s face the truth, Thanksgiving food is delicious!
TURKEY TROTTING
Joining in on the annual Turkey Trot for fun or charitable purposes is a great Thanksgiving tradition. It’s true that thanksgiving food is delicious and filling. So while racing for the last few bites may not seem like the best idea, you now have a great reason to decorate your table for Thanksgiving Day
TURKEY TROTTING
. Joining in on the annual Turkey Trot for fun or charitable purposes is a wonderful tradition. Many thanksgiving events will benefit shelters and charities that assist those in need during the holiday season of thanks. It’s a wonderful way to keep fit, have fun with your family, and give back at the same time.
THANKSGIVING FEAST
The food is epic thanksgiving is thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving feast is a great way to enjoy the delicious turkey and stuffing. Other Thanksgiving traditions include sweet potato pie, sweet potato casserole, and gravy… The list of thanksgiving food options is endless! There are many Thanksgiving foods that people love, but there is one thing everyone agrees on: eating leftovers is the best.
If you’re looking for some great Thanksgiving recipes or ideas be sure to check out this blog post Fun Thanksgiving Recipes That Everyone Will Love
DECORATING YOUR HOME FOR THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is a time for family and thanks so why not decorate your thanksgiving dining table to make everyone feel at home? You don’t need to be extravagant with your thanksgiving centerpieces, but it is nice to have something that reminds people about all things harvest-related in rich reds and colors. You can use traditional Thanksgiving items such as candles and flowers, or even candles.
So what better way to celebrate than by making sure our homes look festive as well during this holiday season? We can all come together to decorate our homes for Thanksgiving, from outside decorations like cornucopias and inflatable turkeys to centerpieces for the thanksgiving table.
THANKSGIVING THURSDAY SUMMARY
The tradition of Thanksgiving is one that goes well beyond the fourth Thursday in November. Thanksgiving is about being thankful every day, not just on one date.
It’s about quality time with the people you love and delicious food. It’s a time for everyone to give back, especially in a season when so many people are thankful for the blessings they have received throughout their lives.
If you’ve read this article you will know that Thanksgiving is more than food. Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for all the blessings in life and can be one the most fulfilling days of the year.
You don’t need to be extravagant with decorating or cooking, but it is a great time to share your favorite memories.
Tell people what Thanksgiving means to you so that they feel like family no matter where they live – even if they’re just next door. This is what Thanksgiving really is about: celebrating the common humanity of all people and putting aside differences to celebrate what we have in common, the love and support of our family and friends.
Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful and thanks so much for reading our blog, here at TravelSpock
Is Thanksgiving always on the 25th?
No it is not. Though it can fall the 25th of November, it has a preset day as the 4th Thursday in November and so the date will change from year to year.
Why is Thanksgiving in November?
November was chosen as the month for the festival of thanks as it marked a period of time when the Harvests were completed, people were healthy and the bounty of the harvest was at it’s best.
