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102-476: The centerpiece of contemporary Thanksgiving in the United States is Thanksgiving dinner , a large meal generally centered on a large roasted turkey . Thanksgiving is the largest eating event in the United States as measured by retail sales of food and beverages and by estimates of individual food intake. Along with attending church services , Thanksgiving dinner remained a central part of celebrations from

204-637: A joint resolution of Congress changing the official national Thanksgiving Day to the fourth Thursday in November starting in 1942 (there are usually four but sometimes five Thursdays in November, depending on the year). Since 1971, when the American Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect, the American observance of Columbus Day has coincided with the Canadian observance of Thanksgiving. In

306-653: A secular holiday as well. Prayers of thanks and special thanksgiving ceremonies are common among most religions after harvests and at other times of the year. The Thanksgiving holiday's history in North America is rooted in English traditions dating from the Protestant Reformation . It also has aspects of a harvest festival , even though the harvest in New England occurs well before the late-November date on which

408-484: A secular manner. Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in all provinces in Canada, except for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia . While businesses may remain open in these provinces, the holiday is nonetheless recognized and celebrated regardless of its status. The Harvest Thanksgiving Festival, Erntedankfest , is a popular Christian festival in some German municipalities on the first Sunday of October. The festival has

510-674: A Puritan holiday in Boston in 1631. According to historian Jeremy Bangs, director of the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum , the Pilgrims may have been influenced by watching the annual services of Thanksgiving for the relief of the siege of Leiden in 1574, while they were staying in Leiden. Now called 3 Oktoberfeest , Leiden's autumn thanksgiving celebration in 1617 was the occasion for sectarian disturbance that appears to have accelerated

612-715: A Thanksgiving meal to those in need, such as unhoused people and shelters. Nonprofits such as the Salvation Army run drives to collect basic Thanksgiving dinner food items such as canned foods, stuffing mix, butter, eggs, and turkey or chicken. Some food banks will distribute free turkeys to help people trying to assemble a Thanksgiving dinner; for example, San Diego Food Bank gave out 14,000 turkeys in 2024. Also, some may volunteer to help others have Thanksgiving dinner on that day. In his 1955 Thanksgiving Day proclamation, President Dwight D. Eisenhower encouraged Americans to use their Thanksgiving for helping those with less. In 1945, on

714-541: A Thanksgiving turkey. Italian Americans might serve capon as the main course to the Thanksgiving meal. Irish Americans might have prime rib as their centerpiece; since beef in Ireland was once a rarity, families would save up money for this dish to signify newfound prosperity and hope. Sometimes, fowl native to the region where the meal is taking place are used; for example, Texas Monthly magazine suggested quail as

816-622: A descendant of an old Boston family which figured largely in the Revolution. He was also a classmate of James Russell Lowell . She had three children. She lived for several years in Cambridge , and then the family built a house in Lincoln , where they lived for nearly a decade until moving to Concord . Her later life was chiefly spent in Boston . She also lived with a married daughter in Roxbury , passing

918-490: A lonely wilderness, set aside a time of thanksgiving. On the appointed day, they gave reverent thanks for their safety, for the health of their children, for the fertility of their fields, for the love which bound them together, and for the faith which united them with their God." Other claims include an earlier religious service by Spanish explorers at San Elizario in Texas in 1598. Historians Robyn Gioia and Michael Gannon of

1020-646: A main dish. In a few areas on the West Coast , Dungeness crab is common as an alternate main dish, as crab season starts in early November. Similarly, Thanksgiving falls within deer hunting season in the Northeastern United States , and as venison is Forever a centerpiece. In Alaskan villages, whale meat is sometimes eaten. John Madden , a longtime commentator on televised NFL Thanksgiving Day games, advocated for turducken : deboned turkey, duck and chicken nested inside each other and then cooked. At

1122-670: A national holiday in 1863, the date of observance varied from state to state. The final Thursday in November had become the customary date in most U.S. states by the beginning of the 19th century, coinciding with, and eventually superseding the holiday of Evacuation Day (commemorating the day the British exited the United States after the Revolutionary War). Influenced by New Englander Sarah Josepha Hale , who wrote letters to politicians for approximately 40 years advocating an official holiday, Lincoln set national Thanksgiving by proclamation for

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1224-528: A national holiday was writer Sarah Josepha Hale . Although she advocated for Thanksgiving in editorials in Godey's Lady's Book from 1837 onwards, Hale did not associate the Pilgrims with Thanksgiving until a brief mention in 1865. In "America's Thanksgiving Hymn", published in 1872, she credited the Pilgrims as being "free to do and pray, And keep in sober gladness Their first Thanksgiving Day". Hale did not suggest that

1326-497: A part of the national identity of the United States. The use of roasted turkey in the United States for Thanksgiving precedes Abraham Lincoln's nationalization of the holiday in 1863. In her 1827 novel Northwood; or, a Tale of New England , Sarah Josepha Hale devoted an entire chapter to Thanksgiving dinner, emphasizing many of the foods that are now considered traditional. Although many other meats are mentioned, "the roasted turkey took precedence on this occasion, being placed at

1428-730: A part of the winter in Boston in order to be near her church, and every summer returning to Plymouth, where she constantly studied not only written records, but crumbling gravestones and oral tradition. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and served as historian of the Massachusetts State Society. The titles published by Lupton were reprints of serialized novels Jane published in periodicals. Austin would not likely have received any financial compensation for

1530-431: A prolific writer who always wrote carefully and in finished style, claiming that her work was distinctly American in every essential way. However, more modern studies have begun to recognize that while Austin did engage in extensive research for her historical fiction, she also embellished her stories and as a result ensured the lasting popularity of many myths about the Pilgrims. In 1850, she married Loring Henry Austin,

1632-599: A regular affair in New England until the late 1660s. Thanksgiving proclamations were made mostly by church leaders in New England up 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 , and conversely by patriot leaders, such as John Hancock , General George Washington , and

1734-522: A significant religious component, and many churches are decorated with autumn crops. In some places, there are religious processions or parades. In the West African country of Liberia, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the first Thursday of November. In 1883, the Legislature of Liberia enacted a statute declaring this day as a national holiday. Thanksgiving is celebrated in the country in large part due to

1836-479: A successful harvest and to give thanks. Collections of food are usually held which are then given to local charities which help the homeless and those in need. In the United States , Thanksgiving is an annual tradition that was federally formalized through an 1863 presidential proclamation by Abraham Lincoln , but was implemented as state legislation since the nation's founding. In 1941, federal legislation by

1938-541: A wide variety of topics, and may have been one of the first writers to deal with a malevolent female mummy in her story "After Three Thousand Years," which bears some similarities to her friend Louisa May Alcott 's short story, "Lost in a Pyramid." Austin dedicated her 1869 novel Cipher to Louisa May Alcott to thank her for her help with its writing. In 1869, Austin published a story titled " William Bradford's Love Life " in Harper's , in which she claimed that Dorothy Bradford,

2040-573: Is also celebrated by evangelical churches such as the Foursquare Gospel Church in Brazil. Thanksgiving ( French : l'Action de grâce ), occurring on the second Monday in October, is an annual Canadian holiday to give thanks at the close of the harvest season. Although the original act of Parliament references God and the holiday is celebrated in churches, the holiday is mostly celebrated in

2142-627: Is not a public holiday. Those who observe the day either go to church in the evening or take the day off and go to church in the morning (and occasionally afternoon) too. An American colony from 1901 to 1946, the Philippines observed Thanksgiving as a special public holiday on the same day as the Americans. During the Japanese occupation during World War II , both the Americans and Filipinos celebrated Thanksgiving in secret. After Japanese withdrawal in 1945,

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2244-511: Is referred to as Friendsgiving . In the West Indian island of Grenada , in the Caribbean , there is a national holiday known as Thanksgiving Day which is celebrated on October 25. Even though it bears the same name, and is celebrated at roughly the same time as the American and Canadian versions of Thanksgiving, this holiday is unrelated to either of those celebrations. Instead, the holiday marks

2346-475: Is sometimes colloquially called "Turkey Day". In fact, $ 983 million has been spent on turkeys alone in 2024. Alexander Hamilton proclaimed that "no citizen of the United States should refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day", and Benjamin Franklin had high regard for the wild turkey as an American icon. As Thanksgiving Day rose in popularity during the 1800s, so too did the turkey. By 1857, turkey had become part of

2448-483: Is sometimes served in the Mid-Atlantic, especially by Baltimoreans of German and Eastern European descent. Many Midwesterners (such as Minnesotans ) and Pacific Northwest residents of Norwegian or Scandinavian descent set the table with lefse . Italian Americans often include antipasti , pasta , and lasagna dishes. Mexican Americans may serve their turkey with mole and roasted corn . In Puerto Rico ,

2550-404: Is widely regarded as the most popular and most traditional, but apple pie and pecan pie are also common favorites. Sweet potato pie , mince pie , cherry pie , and chocolate cream pie are served as well. The beverages at Thanksgiving can vary as much as the side dishes, often depending on who is present at the table and their tastes. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, it

2652-508: The Australian external territory of Norfolk Island , Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Wednesday of November, similar to the pre– World War II American observance on the last Thursday of the month. Due to the time difference of between 14 and 17 hours, this means the Norfolk Island observance is two days before or five days after the United States' observance. The holiday was brought to

2754-500: The Campbell Soup Company to promote use of its canned cream of mushroom soup . It has since become a Thanksgiving standard. A fresh salad may be included, especially on the West Coast . A charcuterie board or relish tray, with various cheese, cured meats, crackers, pickles , olives , onions or peppers , is often included either with the meal itself or as a pre-meal appetizer . Bread rolls , biscuits , or cornbread ,

2856-509: The Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935 included pickles , green olives, celery , roast turkey, oyster stew , cranberry sauce, giblet gravy , dressing , creamed asparagus tips, snowflake potatoes, baked carrots, hot rolls , fruit salad , mince pie, fruitcake , candies , grapes , apples , clams , fish , and many other foods, along with French drip coffee , cigars , and cigarettes . Sugar, among other food commodities,

2958-600: The Continental Congress , each giving thanks to God for events favorable to their causes. As the first President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nationwide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 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", and calling on Americans to "unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to

3060-659: The First World War ended, the Armistice Day holiday was usually held during the same week. To prevent the two holidays from clashing with one another, in 1957 the Canadian Parliament proclaimed Thanksgiving to be observed on its present date on the second Monday of October. Thanksgiving in the United States has been observed on differing dates. From the time of the Founding Fathers until Abraham Lincoln made it

3162-471: The Harrison family of Virginia . The more familiar Thanksgiving precedent accompanied by feasting is traced to the Pilgrims and Puritans who emigrated from England in the 1620s and 1630s. They brought their previous tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving with them to New England . The 1621 Plymouth, Massachusetts thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. The Pilgrims celebrated this with

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3264-468: The National Turkey Federation (and, as far back as 1873, commercial turkey farmers) has presented a live turkey to the president of the United States prior to each Thanksgiving. These turkeys were initially slaughtered and eaten for the president's Thanksgiving dinner; since 1989, the presented turkeys have typically been given a mock pardon to great fanfare and sent to a park to live out

3366-696: The Pieterskerk . In commemoration, a non-denominational Thanksgiving Day service is held each year on the morning of the American Thanksgiving Day in the Pieterskerk, a Gothic church in Leiden, noting the hospitality the Pilgrims received in Leiden on their way to the New World . Thanksgiving is observed by orthodox Protestant churches in the Netherlands on the first Wednesday in November ( Dankdag ). It

3468-442: The Pilgrims . Jane's father, a lawyer, antiquary and genealogist, died in 1833, when she was only two. Behind him, he left a large archive of historical and legal documents from the Pilgrims, the whereabouts of which are unknown today. Her brother, John A. Goodwin , wrote a book on the Pilgrims, The Pilgrim Republic . Her mother was a poet and songwriter, and told Jane many stories of her ancestors, especially of Francis Le Baron —

3570-479: The Prince of Wales ' recovery from a serious illness. By the end of the 19th century, Thanksgiving Day was normally celebrated on November 6 (see also Guy Fawkes Night discussed above). In the late 19th century, the militia staged "sham battles" for public entertainment on Thanksgiving Day. The militia agitated for an earlier date for the holiday, so they could use the warmer weather to draw bigger crowds. However, when

3672-1025: The United States Congress formalized Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. The holiday traditionally has been a celebration of the blessings of the year, including the harvest. On Thanksgiving Day, it is common for Americans to share a family meal, attend church services , and view special sporting events. Thanksgiving is celebrated in public places with parades such as Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York City , ABC Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia , America's Hometown Thanksgiving Parade in Plymouth, Massachusetts , McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago , and Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Parade in New Orleans . What Americans call

3774-655: The University of Florida argue that the earliest Thanksgiving service in what is now the United States was celebrated by the Spanish community on September 8, 1565, in current Saint Augustine , Florida. [1] The thanksgiving at St. Augustine was celebrated 56 years before the Puritan Pilgrim thanksgiving at Plymouth Plantation (Massachusetts), but it did not become the origin of a national annual tradition. [2] The earlier Thanksgiving celebrations in Canada has been attributed to

3876-558: The Wampanoags , a tribe of Native Americans who, along with the last surviving Patuxet , had helped them get through the previous winter by giving them food in that time of scarcity, in exchange for an alliance and protection against the rival Narragansett tribe . Several days of Thanksgiving were held in early New England history that have been identified as the "First Thanksgiving", including Pilgrim holidays in Plymouth in 1621 and 1623, and

3978-467: The " Holiday Season " generally begins with Thanksgiving. The first day after Thanksgiving Day— Black Friday —marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. Thanksgiving is usually celebrated with a family meal. Beginning in the 2010s, a new tradition has emerged to also celebrate Thanksgiving with a meal with friends, as a separate event on a different day or an alternate event on Thanksgiving Day. This

4080-433: The "First Thanksgiving". Most of what was served, however, according to some historians, as referenced in a letter from Edward Winslow written on 11 December 1621, would have been seafood, including lobster, fish, eels, mussels and oysters. Mussels in particular were abundant in New England and could be easily harvested because they clung to rocks along the shoreline. One of the most persistent advocates for Thanksgiving as

4182-471: The 17th century, who celebrated their successful harvests. The French settlers in the area typically had feasts at the end of the harvest season. They continued throughout the winter season, even sharing food with the indigenous peoples of the area. As settlers arrived in Nova Scotia from New England after 1700, late autumn Thanksgiving celebrations became commonplace. New immigrants into the country—such as

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4284-669: The Forefathers was completed. Standish of Standish , Betty Alden , The Nameless Nobleman , and Dr. Le Baron and his Daughters , cover the era from the landing of the Pilgrims upon Plymouth Rock , in 1620 to the days of the American Revolution , in 1775. At the time of her death, she was engaged upon a story which followed the fortunes of the Aldens and others of the Plymouth Colony in the migration to Little Compton or Sakonnet Point, Rhode Island. Nineteenth-century biographies portray her as

4386-485: The Irish, Scottish, and Germans—also added their own traditions to the harvest celebrations. Most of the U.S. aspects of Thanksgiving (such as the turkey) were incorporated when United Empire Loyalists began to flee from the United States during and after the American Revolution and settled in Canada. In 1859, the government of the provinces of Canada declared a Thanksgiving Day in which "all Canadians [were asked] to spend

4488-598: The Pilgrim thanksgiving included feasting. Other writers were less discerning. Jane G. Austin published a fictional account of the Pilgrims, Standish of Standish , in 1889. Austin described the Pilgrims a year after their arrival as feasting on turkey stuffed with beechnuts, other types of fowl, venison, boiled beef and other roasts, oysters, clam chowder, plum-porridge, hasty pudding, sea biscuit, manchet bread, butter, treacle, mustard, turnips, salad, grapes, plums, popcorn, ale, and root beer. Austin's lavish description disregarded

4590-500: The Plymouth settlers and the local Wampanoag tribe. Winslow sent out four men who provided a variety of fowls, sufficient to feed the colony for a week, while Massasoit 's hunters killed five deer. In the 19th century, this event became associated with the idea of a Thanksgiving feast. In a footnote in 1841, Alexander Young claimed that this event "was the first thanksgiving, the harvest festival of New England". Jamestown, Virginia , and other locations have also been suggested as sites of

4692-604: The President to cease promoting the plan, culminating in an agreement at the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation shortly before Thanksgiving in 1947. Turkey was no longer discouraged, but Eggless Thursdays remained for the rest of the year, meaning no pumpkin pie was served at the White House dinner that year. Turkey is the most common main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, to the point that Thanksgiving

4794-523: The Puritans viewed as acts of special providence . Unexpected disasters or threats of judgement from on high called for Days of Fasting. Special blessings, viewed as coming from God, called for Days of Thanksgiving, which were observed through Christian church services and other gatherings. For example, Days of Thanksgiving were called following the victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588 and following

4896-594: The Saxons would offer the first sheaf of barley, oats, or wheat to fertility gods. When the harvest was finally collected, communities would come together for a harvest supper. When Christianity arrived in Britain many traditions remained, and today the Harvest Festival is marked by churches and schools in late September/early October (same as Canada) with singing, praying and decorating with baskets of food and fruit to celebrate

4998-771: The Thanksgiving celebration would take place on the fourth Thursday of November. This date is celebrated by many families of American origin, by some Protestant Christian denominations, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (which is of American origin), the Presbyterian Church , the Baptist Church , the Methodist Church , and the Church of the Nazarene , and Methodist denominational universities. The day

5100-469: The Thanksgiving meal is completed with arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas ), pasteles (root tamales), and potato salad . Turkey in Puerto Rico is often stuffed with mofongo . Cuban Americans traditionally serve the turkey alongside a small roasted pork and include white rice and black beans or kidney beans. Because of the amount of food, preparation for the Thanksgiving meal may begin early in

5202-583: The Thanksgiving-Christmas season (and a fifth of the overall total coming from Thanksgiving alone), and a per capita consumption of almost 18 pounds (8.2 kg). Thanksgiving turkey is sometimes stuffed with a traditional savory bread pudding and roasted. Sage is the standard herb added to the stuffing, along with chopped onions and celery. Other ingredients, such as chopped chestnuts or other tree nuts, crumbled sausage or bacon, carrots, cranberries, raisins, and/or apples, may be added to stuffing. If

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5304-477: The United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia , and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory of Norfolk Island . It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the preceding year. Various similarly named harvest festival holidays occur throughout the world during autumn. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as

5406-402: The United States, an international approach to Thanksgiving has become common. Basic Thanksgiving dishes can be transformed by using flavors, techniques, and traditions from immigrants' own cuisines. Others celebrate the holiday with a variety of standard and multicultural dishes, particularly when there is a crowd to be fed, as guests' tastes can vary. A live raccoon was sent from Mississippi to

5508-483: The United States, the Thanksgiving dinner often has something of a ritual or traditional quality to it. Many Americans would regard Thanksgiving dinner as incomplete without stuffing , mashed potatoes with gravy , and cranberry sauce . A recipe for cranberry sauce to be served with turkey appeared in the first American cookbook, American Cookery (1796) by Amelia Simmons. Commonly served vegetable dishes include mashed winter squash , turnips , and sweet potatoes ,

5610-428: The White House intended to be served for the 1926 Thanksgiving feast. Calvin and Grace Coolidge decided to keep her as a pet instead and named her Rebecca . Many offerings are typically served alongside the main dish. Copious leftovers are also common following the meal proper. Traditional Thanksgiving foods are sometimes specific to the day, and although some of the dishes might be seen at any semi-formal meal in

5712-402: The anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of the island in 1983, in response to the deposition and execution of the socialist Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop by a military government from within his own party. Labor Thanksgiving Day ( 勤労感謝の日 , Kinrō Kansha no Hi ) is a national holiday in Japan . It takes place annually on November 23. The law establishing the holiday, which

5814-453: The bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed—to be observed on the second Monday in October." An annual thanksgiving holiday tradition in North American colonies is documented for the first time in 1619, in what is now called the Commonwealth of Virginia . Thirty-eight English settlers aboard the ship Margaret arrived by way of the James River at Berkeley Hundred in Charles City County, Virginia on December 4, 1619. The landing

5916-406: The captain of the Mayflower, Christopher Jones. Austin's most popular works were her Pilgrim stories, for which she relied on family lore, archival research, and a creative imagination. Her historical novels, written later in her career, were published as the Pilgrims were increasingly gaining fame. Standish of Standish , for example, was published in 1889, just after the famed National Monument to

6018-441: The chief aim is to produce happiness, and that many of the company will not be wholly happy if the mistress of the household must pass a good part of the day in the kitchen. On this account the greater the preparations made in advance the better, so as to relieve the housekeeper of as many duties and as much anxiety as possible of the holiday." It's common during this time for increased donations and charity drives to support providing

6120-529: The country may opt for wheat , rye , or sourdough bread as the base. The addition of ingredients such as oysters , apples , chestnuts , raisins , and sausage or the turkey's giblets may also reflect regional and historic differences. Other dishes likewise reflect the regional, cultural, or ethnic backgrounds of those who have come together for the meal. Many African Americans and Southerners serve baked macaroni and cheese and collard greens , along with chitterlings and sweet potato pie . Sauerkraut

6222-479: The country. Poland doesn't celebrate thanksgiving, but they do celebrate Dożynki which is very similar. The nation of Saint Lucia celebrates Thanksgiving on the first Monday in October. The Harvest Festival of Thanksgiving does not have an official date in the United Kingdom; however, it is traditionally held on or near the Sunday of the harvest moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. Harvest Thanksgiving in Britain also has pre-Christian roots when

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6324-410: The day or during the days prior. The turkey generally takes hours to prepare, cook, and rest before serving. Many side dishes can be at least partially prepared in advance, and pies may be popular desserts in part because they can be baked days or weeks in advance and stored. It is common for family members and friends from different households to bring dishes to a joint meal. The meal is often served in

6426-492: The deliverance of Queen Anne in 1605. An unusual annual Day of Thanksgiving began in 1606 following the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 and developed into Guy Fawkes Day on November 5. Days of Fasting were called on account of plagues in 1604 and 1622, drought in 1611, and floods in 1613. Annual Thanksgiving prayers were dictated by the charter of English settlers upon their safe landing in America in 1619 at Berkeley Hundred in Virginia. According to some historians,

6528-472: The dinner table, unfermented apple cider (still or sparkling) or wine are often served. Beaujolais nouveau is sometimes served; the beverage has been marketed as a Thanksgiving drink since the producers of the wine (which is made available only for a short window each year) set the annual release date to be one week before Thanksgiving beginning in 1985, and it is said to pair well with the wide variety of food served for Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving marks

6630-409: The earlier onset of winter in the North, thus ending the harvest season earlier. Thanksgiving in Canada did not have a fixed date until the late 19th century. Prior to Canadian Confederation , many of the individual colonial governors of the Canadian provinces had declared their own days of Thanksgiving. The first official Canadian Thanksgiving occurred on April 15, 1872, when the nation was celebrating

6732-441: The early 16th century it was taken to Europe from Mexico by the Spanish. Its descendants later returned to America. Twentieth century commercial varieties of turkey were bred from these European descendants. The Beltsville Small White turkey was bred by the USDA at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland in response to consumer demand for a small (8-15 pound) turkey with more white meat and no dark feathers. It

6834-430: The early or middle afternoon. Maria Parloa , an early New England domestic scientist cautioned against eating too early in the day, because of the increased pressure on the cook: "During the week preceding Thanksgiving the New England housekeeper is a busy woman. All over the country, but especially in New England, men and women look forward to the holiday as a time for going to old homes,--a family day.... Remember that

6936-678: The early settlers. The tradition of eating them at Thanksgiving likely reflects their affordability for later Americans. Early North American settlers did eat turkey , but the lavish feasts that are frequently ascribed to Thanksgiving in the 17th century were a creation of nineteenth-century writers who sought to popularize a unifying holiday in which all Americans could share. The tradition of Thanksgiving dinner has often been associated in popular culture with New England . New England Puritans proclaimed days of thanksgiving to commemorate many specific events. Such days were marked by religious observances, prayer, and sometimes fasting . Church records of

7038-425: The final Thursday in November in celebration of the bounties that had continued to fall on the Union and for the military successes in the war, also calling on the American people, "with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience ... fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation...." Because of the ongoing Civil War , a nationwide Thanksgiving celebration

7140-453: The first Thanksgiving after the end of WWII, he testified before Congress asking for more food aid to Europe. Thanksgiving Sub-national entities October 14, 2024 (Canada); November 7, 2024 (Liberia); November 27, 2024 (Norfolk Island); October 13, 2025 (Canada); November 6, 2025 (Liberia); November 26, 2025 (Norfolk Island); Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in

7242-401: The first celebration of Thanksgiving in North America occurred during the 1578 voyage of Martin Frobisher from England in search of the Northwest Passage . Other researchers, however, state that "there is no compelling narrative of the origins of the Canadian Thanksgiving day." Antecedents for Canadian Thanksgiving are also sometimes traced to the French settlers who came to New France in

7344-509: The great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions." Devotees in Florida , New England , Texas and Virginia have maintained contradictory claims to having held the first Thanksgiving celebration in what became the United States. The question is complicated by the concept of Thanksgiving as either a holiday celebration or a religious service. James Baker maintains, "The American holiday's true origin

7446-792: The head of the table; and well did it become its lordly stations, sending forth the rich odour of its savoury stuffing". For dessert, "the celebrated pumpkin pie...occupied the most distinguished niche" and was described as "an indispensable part of a good and true Yankee Thanksgiving". The White House Cook Book , published in 1887 by Fanny Lemira Gillette, had the following menu: oysters on half shell, cream of chicken soup, fried smelts , sauce tartare , roast turkey, cranberry sauce , mashed potatoes , baked squash , boiled onions , parsnip fritters , olives , chicken salad , venison pastry , pumpkin pie , mince pie , charlotte russe , almond ice cream, lemon jelly , hickory nut cake, cheese , fruits , and coffee . A Thanksgiving Day dinner served to

7548-476: The historical record and the deaths due to starvation and malnutrition that occurred in the Plymouth Colony that winter. Nonetheless, her account was extremely popular. It was repeated by other writers, adapted for plays and public events, and adopted by school curricula. The writings of Austin and others helped to establish the inaccurate image of the Pilgrim Thanksgiving feast in popular culture and make it

7650-607: The holiday by attending religious ceremonies, while others take it as a day for relaxation. Others view the holiday as an imposition from the American settlers of the country. In the years following the second civil war , some Liberians have taken the holiday as a time to be thankful for this new period peace and relative stability. Many of the Pilgrims who migrated to the Plymouth Plantation resided in Leiden from 1609 to 1620, and had recorded their births, marriages, and deaths at

7752-483: The holiday in 'public and solemn' recognition of God's mercies." On 9 October 1879, Canada's Governor General, the Marquis of Lorne , declared November 6 as "a day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed." The Canadian Parliament on 31 January 1957 applied the same language in its proclamation for the modern holiday: "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for

7854-543: The holiday's early establishment in North America. In a 2015 Harris Poll , Thanksgiving was the second most popular holiday in the United States (after Christmas ), and turkey was the most popular holiday food, regardless of region, generation, gender, or race. At Thanksgiving dinner, turkey is served with a variety of side dishes that can vary from traditional, such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, to ones that reflect regional or cultural heritage. Given that days of thanksgiving revolve around giving thanks,

7956-513: The initial peak for seasonal consumption of eggnog , which is followed by a larger peak at Christmas . There are many regional differences as to what gets served for Thanksgiving dinner. Each state and region has its own preferences, starting with the stuffing or dressing traditionally served with the turkey. The common version is some form of mixture of white bread cubes, sage , onion , celery and parsley . Southerners generally make their dressing from cornbread , while those in other parts of

8058-514: The island by visiting American whaling ships. In Brazil, National Thanksgiving Day ( Portuguese : Dia de Ação de Graças ) was instituted by President Gaspar Dutra , through Law 781 of August 17, 1949, at the suggestion of Ambassador Joaquim Nabuco , who was enthusiastic about the commemorations he saw in 1909 in St. Patrick's Cathedral as an ambassador in Washington. In 1966, Law 5110 established that

8160-421: The latter often prepared with sweeteners such as brown sugar , molasses , or marshmallows . All three can be served mashed or roasted. Other vegetables served may include carrots or parsnips , beets , radishes , asparagus , Brussels sprouts , cauliflower , and creamed corn . Green beans are frequently served, in particular, green bean casserole . The recipe was invented in 1955 by Dorcas Reilly for

8262-465: The latter particularly in the South and parts of New England , may also be served, and macaroni and cheese is a common side dish in some Southern coastal areas. For dessert, various pies are usually served. Harriet Beecher Stowe described pie as "an English institution, which, transplanted on American soil, forthwith ran rampant and burst forth into an untold variety of genera and species." Pumpkin pie

8364-441: The mixture is cooked outside the bird, a stock is generally added to prevent it from drying out. A number of cultural and regional factors affect whether this is referred to as "stuffing" or "dressing". Turkeys may be deep-fried instead of roasted due to the shorter preparation time, but this method carries higher safety risks. The consumption of turkey on Thanksgiving is so ingrained in American culture that each year since 1947,

8466-466: The modern Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated. In the English tradition, days of thanksgiving and special thanksgiving religious services became important during the English Reformation in the reign of Henry VIII . Before 1536 there were 95 Church holidays, plus every Sunday, when people were required to attend church and forego work. Though the 1536 reforms in the Church of England reduced

8568-461: The nameless nobleman — and his descendants. As a child, she was educated at nine different private schools in Boston . Austin's first major publication was Fairy Dreams; or Wanderings in Elf-Land , in 1859. As she worked to establish her writing career during the 1860s, she published in periodicals such as Harper's , The Atlantic Monthly, Putnam's , Lippincott's , and The Galaxy . She wrote on

8670-583: The nation's founding as a colony of the American Colonization Society in 1821 by former slaves and free people of color from the United States. However, the Liberian celebration of the holiday is notably different from the American celebration. While some Liberian families chose to celebrate with a feast or cook out, it is not considered a staple of the holiday and there is no specific food heavily associated with Thanksgiving. Some chose to celebrate

8772-508: The number of holidays in the liturgical calendar to 27, the Puritan party in the Anglican Church wished to eliminate all Church holidays apart from the weekly Lord's Day , including the evangelical feasts of Christmas and Easter (cf. Puritan Sabbatarianism ). The holidays were to be replaced by specially called Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving , in response to events that

8874-468: The other end of the spectrum, vegetarians or vegans may choose a tofu , seitan , or lentil-based substitute such as tofurkey , or serve vegetable-based dishes such as stuffed squash, which are more often considered sides. Vegetarian menus for Thanksgiving date back to at least 1897, when they were discussed by the Vegetarian Club of the University of Chicago . Due to the impacts of immigration in

8976-555: The pilgrims' plans to emigrate to America. Later in New England, religious thanksgiving services were declared by civil leaders such as Governor Bradford , who planned the Plymouth colony's thanksgiving celebration and feast in 1623. Bradford issued a proclamation of Thanksgiving following victory in the Pequot War in the late 1630s to celebrate "the bloody victory, thanking God that the battle had been won." The practice of holding an annual thanksgiving harvest festival did not become

9078-552: The proclamation so close to the change wreaked havoc on the holiday schedules of many people, schools, and businesses, and most Americans were not in favor of the change. Some of those who opposed the change dubbed the holiday " Franksgiving " that year. Some state governors went along with the change while others stuck with the original November 30 date for the holiday, and three states — Colorado, Mississippi, and Texas — observed both dates. The double Thanksgiving continued for two more years, and then on December 26, 1941, Roosevelt signed

9180-632: The rest of their usually short natural lives. However the first "pardon" to a turkey was given by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, and there is a monument in Hartford, Connecticut , to this one. Entrees other than turkey are sometimes served at Thanksgiving dinner, either alongside the turkey or in place of it as the main dish, depending on preference or availability. Baked ham is served at Thanksgiving in many households. Roasted goose , duck , or chicken , foods that were traditional European centerpieces of Christmas dinners , are sometimes served in place of

9282-488: The saying of grace before Thanksgiving dinner is a traditional feature of the feast. Many of the dishes in a traditional Thanksgiving dinner are made from ingredients native to the Americas , including turkey , potato , sweet potato , corn (maize) , squash (including pumpkin ), green bean , and cranberry . The Pilgrims may have learned about some of these foods from Native Americans , but others were not available to

9384-466: The time do not mention food or feasting as being part of such events. A single exception records that following church services in 1636, there was "then making merry to the creatures, the poorer sort being invited of the richer." On December 11, 1621, Governor Edward Winslow of the Plymouth Colony wrote a letter in hopes of attracting more colonists. In it, he described a three-day feast shared by

9486-463: The tradition continued until 1969. In 1973, President Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation 1180, changing the date to September 21, altering the holiday as a celebration of the imposition of martial law a year prior. This continued until Marcos' ouster in 1986. Since the Fifth Republic , with no proclamations declaring the observance of thanksgiving, it is no longer officially celebrated in

9588-414: The traditional dinner in New England. The domestic turkey eaten now is very different from the wild turkey known to the Pilgrims, Hamilton, and Franklin. Wild turkeys are native to the Americas and evolved around 5 million years ago. At least five subspecies are still found in 48 states, Mexico, and Canada. Today, the southern Mexico subspecies Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo is almost extinct, but in

9690-642: The wife of Plymouth governor William Bradford , committed suicide by jumping off the Mayflower because she believed William was in love with Alice Carpenter Southworth. Despite having no historical basis, the story caught on. Ernest Gebler told a variation of the story in his 1950 novel The Voyage of the Mayflower , which was later made into the movie the Plymouth Adventure in 1952. In Gebler's version, however, Dorothy killed herself because she fell in love with

9792-506: Was rationed from 1942 to 1946 . In 1947, as part of a voluntary rationing campaign, the Truman administration attempted to promote "Poultryless Thursdays", discouraging Americans from eating poultry or egg products on Thursdays. Because Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, this meant that turkey and pumpkin pie, two Thanksgiving staples, would be discouraged (pumpkin pie because it contains eggs). The National Poultry and Egg Board furiously lobbied

9894-625: Was adopted during the American occupation after World War II, cites it as an occasion for commemorating labor and production and giving each other thanks. It has roots in the ancient Shinto harvest ceremony ( Niiname-sai ( 新嘗祭 ) ). Jane G. Austin Jane Goodwin was born on February 25, 1831, in Worcester, Massachusetts , to Elizabeth (Hammatt) and Isaac Goodwin. Her parents were from Plymouth and could trace eight distinct family lines back to

9996-531: Was immediately followed by a religious celebration, specifically dictated by the group's charter from the London Company . The charter declared, "that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantation in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God." Since the mid 20th century, the original celebration has been commemorated there annually at present-day Berkeley Plantation , ancestral home of

10098-711: Was introduced commercially in 1947 and dominated the market for nearly 20 years. The Small White was supplanted by the Broad Breasted White turkey, bred specifically for large feasts such as Thanksgiving. These turkeys can grow to over 40 pounds, but the breed must be artificially bred and suffers from health problems due to its size. It is estimated that more than 99% of the American turkeys eaten are Broad Breasted Whites. In 2006, American turkey growers were expected to raise 270 million turkeys, to be processed into five billion pounds of turkey meat valued at almost $ 8 billion, with one third of all turkey consumption occurring in

10200-424: Was not realized until Reconstruction in the 1870s. On October 31, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a presidential proclamation changing the holiday to the next to last Thursday in November in an effort to boost the economy. The earlier date created an extra seven days for Christmas shopping since at that time retailers never began promoting the Christmas season until after Thanksgiving. But making

10302-803: Was the New England Calvinist Thanksgiving. Never coupled with a Sabbath meeting, the Puritan observances were special days set aside during the week for thanksgiving and praise in response to God's providence." Baker calls the debate a "tempest in a beanpot" and "marvelous nonsense" based on regional claims. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy acknowledged both the Virginia and Massachusetts claims. Kennedy issued Proclamation 3560 on November 5, 1963, stating, "Over three centuries ago, our forefathers in Virginia and in Massachusetts, far from home in

10404-408: Was usual for Americans to consume hard cider and alcoholic punches . Prohibition in the 1920s restricted legal Thanksgiving options to milk, water, and lemonade. Pitchers of sweet tea were often found on Southern tables even before prohibition and remain popular. Coffee is also frequently served at the end of Thanksgiving dinner. Spirits or cocktails may be offered before the main meal. On

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