Turkey tales and gratitude: Unpacking the feast, the fun, and the history of Thanksgiving

By: Prachi Jaitly

Every year, as the leaves fall and a crisp chill permeates the air, families across the United States come together to celebrate Thanksgiving. This cherished holiday, observed on the fourth Thursday of November, has evolved over centuries, weaving together history, culture, and modern traditions. While it’s a day marked by indulgent feasts and family reunions, Thanksgiving is, at its heart, a profound reminder to reflect on gratitude and the bonds that hold us together.

A Feast Rooted in History

Thanksgiving is often traced back to the autumn of 1621, when the Pilgrims of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people shared a meal to celebrate a successful harvest. Having survived a brutal winter and relying on the knowledge and generosity of the Wampanoag, the Pilgrims hosted what is now considered the “First Thanksgiving.” This gathering featured a menu quite different from today’s dishes — wildfowl, venison, and an array of seasonal vegetables formed the centerpiece of this early celebration.

While the narrative of harmony surrounding this event has been romanticized over time, the feast represented a fleeting moment of cooperation between two vastly different cultures. The relationship between settlers and Native Americans would later be marred by conflict, displacement, and immense suffering. For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a reminder of the pain their ancestors endured, adding a layer of complexity to the holiday’s story.

For decades after that initial feast, Thanksgiving remained an informal tradition, celebrated sporadically in New England as a day of prayer and gratitude for blessings such as military victories or the end of droughts. It wasn’t until the 19th century that Thanksgiving began to take shape as a national holiday.

The credit for this largely goes to Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer and editor who lobbied tirelessly for the establishment of a unified day of thanks. Her campaign spanned decades, culminating in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday amidst the backdrop of the Civil War. Lincoln envisioned the day as a means of fostering unity in a divided nation, urging Americans to come together to “heal the wounds of the nation.”

Initially celebrated on the last Thursday of November, Thanksgiving’s date shifted slightly over the years. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt solidified the fourth Thursday of November as the official holiday, seeking to bolster the holiday shopping season during the Great Depression. According to History.com, Thanksgiving is commonly known as a way to commemorate the colonial Pilgrims’ harvest meal in 1621 that they shared with Wampanoag Indians, per Time, who “were key to the survival of the colonists during the first year they arrived in 1620.” Although there is controversy about whether or not the meal was originally intended to be shared.

As years passed, designating feasts dedicated to giving thanks “on an annual or occasional basis became common practice in other New England settlements as well.”

Traditions That Warm the Heart

Thanksgiving traditions have come a long way since the 17th century, yet the spirit of gratitude and abundance remains central. The holiday is synonymous with food, and for many, the highlight is the classic Thanksgiving meal. A golden, roasted turkey takes center stage, surrounded by dishes like cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. These staples, now iconic, symbolize the agricultural roots of the celebration.

But Thanksgiving is about more than just the food on the table. It’s a day for families and friends to reconnect, sometimes traveling across the country to be together. Whether it’s sharing stories over dinner, watching football games, or tuning in to the dazzling Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the holiday is a time to pause and cherish the company of loved ones.

Acts of kindness also play a significant role in Thanksgiving. Many people spend the day volunteering at soup kitchens or donating to food drives, ensuring that those in need can partake in the holiday’s spirit of generosity.

A Modern Twist: Black Friday and Beyond

Thanksgiving doesn’t just mark the end of autumn; it also ushers in the holiday shopping season. The day after Thanksgiving, commonly known as Black Friday, has become a retail phenomenon. Shoppers flock to stores, both in-person and online, lured by deep discounts and limited-time deals.

The origins of Black Friday, however, are less glamorous than its current commercial sheen. In the 1960s, Philadelphia police coined the term to describe the chaos of post-Thanksgiving crowds, as suburban shoppers flooded the city for early holiday deals and the annual Army-Navy football game. Merchants eventually embraced the term, rebranding it to signify profitability, as the day when businesses moved “from red to black” in their ledgers.

Though Black Friday has grown into a cultural event, its meteoric rise also reflects the evolution of Thanksgiving itself. The holiday now exists at the intersection of tradition and modernity, balancing gratitude with consumerism.

While Thanksgiving remains a beloved holiday for millions, it is not without controversy. For Native Americans and Alaska Natives, the holiday often symbolizes loss and injustice. In the years following the Pilgrims’ arrival, Indigenous populations faced devastating consequences from European colonization, including diseases and violent conflicts that decimated their communities.

For some, Thanksgiving is observed as a National Day of Mourning — a time to honor ancestors and reflect on the enduring challenges faced by Native peoples. This perspective invites a deeper understanding of the holiday’s history, encouraging Americans to acknowledge its complexities and embrace a more inclusive narrative.

At its core, Thanksgiving endures as a celebration of gratitude. It transcends its historical roots, offering a moment to pause and appreciate the blessings of life. In a world that often feels fast-paced and fragmented, the holiday encourages togetherness and reflection, reminding us of the importance of connection and kindness.

From the humble harvest feast of 1621 to today’s grand gatherings, Thanksgiving has continually evolved, adapting to the needs and values of the times. Yet, its essence remains unchanged — a time to express thanks, share abundance, and come together as a community.

As families gather around the table this Thanksgiving, the holiday serves as a poignant reminder: no matter how much the world changes, gratitude remains timeless.