| Thank you, Cathy Froberg in central Ohio, for this week's cover image! |
With Thanksgiving coming up later this week, now is a good time to remember the “why” of this holiday that many of us more recently have come to associate with turkey, football, and the start of the holiday shopping season.
The idea of Thanksgiving is rooted in the autumnal harvest celebrations held for centuries by indigenous peoples to celebrate the season’s bounty.
After European settlers arrived in the early 17th century, communities in Massachusetts and Virginia separately came together similarly to give thanks for their continued survival and the fertility of their fields. The “first” Thanksgiving is typically attributed to the feast shared between the Pilgrims in Plimoth, Massachusetts, and the people of the Wampanoag tribe. This celebration lasted 3 days!
Today, the feast typically comes from the grocery store (and is lucky to last 20 minutes out of the oven!), but the heart of the celebration remains: giving thanks for what we have and what we hold dear.
This year, Thanksgiving has to look different for most of us, and changing how we celebrate gives thanks to the people and communities that we care about. If history has taught us anything, times and traditions may change—even if briefly out of necessity—but it’s how we work together and protect one another that defines who we are as a people and a nation.
Read more about the history and origins of Thanksgiving, including why it’s celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.
How did Thanksgiving become a national holiday in the United States? We can thank the “godmother of Thanksgiving,” Sarah Josepha Hale!
Most people in the U.S. serve turkey on Thanksgiving. As we covered last week, we don’t really know why, but one thing is for sure: Wild turkeys are a uniquely All-American bird! And, in case you’ve ever wondered: Yes, turkeys do gobble!
We talk a lot about white Christmases, but what about Thanksgiving storms?
Finally, we want to say how thankful we are for all of you, Dear Readers. Your support continues to be a bright spot in a year when nothing much has been certain for any of us. A happiest of Thanksgivings to you!
As certain as the Sun will rise and set each day (and it will—we promise!), The Old Farmer’s Almanac is here for you, now and always.
Your Friends from The Old Farmer’s Almanac |
