A History of Thanksgiving Traditions
Thanksgiving is traditionally a time of feasts, friends, and family. For many Americans, the last Thursday of November is a time of remembrance and thankfulness. How much do you know about the history Thanksgiving traditions?
Lexus of Highland Park is here with some fun facts to be thankful for. Show off your knowledge at the dinner table this weekend!
Did you know? Services dedicated to the celebration of Thanksgiving were recorded as far back as the 1600s in Jamestown, Virginia.
The event was declared to be “yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving…” by English settler Captain John Woodlief.
But the tradition that most of us here at Lexus of Highland Park are familiar with is the festival that was observed at the Plymouth Plantation in 1621, after Native Americans helped early settlers successfully grow their crops.
Thanksgiving became an annual event for many of the colonies at that time, but there was still no organized day of remembrance.
The proclamation was made by George Washington in 1789, but Thanksgiving didn’t become a nationally recognized holiday until 1863 under the presidency of Abraham Lincoln.
The English celebration began to honor how Native Americans helped the first American settlers survive harsh winters by learning to grow their own food. While Thanksgiving is observed on the same day by Americans today, it has evolved into many different celebrations of the original tradition.
The annual turkey feast is one still upheld by many households. Other popular rituals are held yearly, like the annual pardoning of the turkey and holiday travel to visit loved ones.
Many people participate in outreach programs to feed the homeless. Some attend annual parades or other regional functions, while others have come up with their own traditions.
The movie industry sees many holiday cinema-goers after Thanksgiving.
Some people choose to gather together to play board games or binge-watch episodes of their favorite movies.
Making a list or verbally expressing the things each person is thankful for has become a recurring tradition.
Black Friday has become one of the biggest shopping days of the year, for those early risers who want to get a head start on holiday gift list.
For many, the Thanksgiving holiday is the perfect time for out-of-town family to help trim the tree. It bonds people together, making the season more enjoyable.
Some households even use this time to invite others over that don’t have family close by, offering them a good, hearty meal.
However you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving, your tradition reflects the sentiments this nation was founded on almost four hundred years ago. At Lexus of Highland Park, we give thanks for our Chicago area customers and friends, and hope you have a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday!
