Curious History

Curious History

What is the origin of America’s annual Thanksgiving Day?

Thanksgiving is a mainly American holiday. The word evokes images of roasted turkey, family reunions, pumpkin pie, football, party rentals and, of course, the Pilgrims and Wampanoag. It is the time when families host get together parties.  But how American Thanksgiving started? Read on to find out…

Thanksgiving History

Thanking creator’s gift had always been a part of daily life of Wampanoag. From ancient times, Native North American people used to celebrate for successful harvests.  Giving thanks was, and still is, the main reason behind the thanksgiving celebrations.

It was September 6 1621, when British labors got a bountiful harvest after a year of scarcity and sickness, the Pilgrims thanked God and celebrated bounty in the Harvest Home tradition with feasting. This was not merely a revival of faith but it was also a blissful outpouring of gratitude. That’s how thanksgiving started in Europe.

The arrival of the Pilgrims and Puritans brought Thanksgiving traditions to America. American Thanksgiving is the blend of two traditions- the Puritan Thanksgiving and the New England tradition of jubilation after a successful harvest.

The American Thanksgiving tradition has its connection with the faith practices of Puritan New England. To the Puritans, thanksgiving was a day of pious humiliation and prayer to thank God for His Providence. Fortunate events, such as the sudden ending of drought, war or pestilence, might encourage a thanksgiving proclamation. By the middle of the 17th century, Thanksgiving became a regular event. Thanksgiving also have a connection to the ancient Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot.

Virginia, Texas, Maine and Florida each state declares itself the First Thanksgiving site and various historical documents support the claims. Despite divergences over the details, 1621 is regarded as the historical birth of the American Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Celebrations Now…

Thanksgiving Celebrations have changed so much throughout the United States. Today’s thanksgiving is much more than the table decoration and turkey. Now people are hiring party planners, party rental services, party decorators and other professionals to host an enjoyable thanksgiving party. Even thanksgiving dinner parties have not remained formal these days. But the best thing is that people manage to spare time from their busy life to celebrate this festival with family!!

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