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The History of Thanksgiving: Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know

Let’s dive into some little-known facts that reveal how this beloved holiday came to be.

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Thanksgiving is more than just a day to indulge in turkey and pie—it’s a holiday with deep roots, unexpected twists, and evolving traditions. While we associate it with gratitude and gatherings, the history behind Thanksgiving might surprise you. Let’s dive into some little-known facts that reveal how this beloved holiday came to be.

1. The First Thanksgiving Wasn’t the First
The famous 1621 feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe wasn’t the first Thanksgiving. Similar celebrations of harvest and gratitude were common among Indigenous tribes long before the Pilgrims arrived. Some historians even argue that Spanish explorers celebrated a Thanksgiving-like feast in Florida in 1565.

Even in Plymouth, the 1621 feast was more practical than ceremonial. They dined on venison, seafood, corn, and squash, with no pumpkin pie or mashed potatoes in sight. Interestingly, the Pilgrims didn’t even refer to the event as “Thanksgiving.” For them, Thanksgiving was a solemn day of prayer and fasting, not a feast.

2. Thanksgiving Took 200 Years to Become a Holiday
Though many states held local Thanksgiving celebrations, it wasn’t until 1863, in the middle of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday. His goal? To create a sense of unity in a deeply divided nation. But it didn’t happen by chance. Much of the credit goes to Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor who spent 17 years lobbying for a national day of thanks. Hale, who also wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” believed the holiday could help heal the nation.

Before Lincoln’s proclamation, individual states celebrated Thanksgiving whenever they pleased, with no set date or national consensus.

3. Football on Thanksgiving Goes Way Back
Football has been part of Thanksgiving celebrations for nearly 150 years. It began in 1876, with a college game between Yale and Princeton. By the 1890s, football had become a Thanksgiving Day tradition across the country.

The Detroit Lions are the team most associated with Thanksgiving football today. In 1934, the struggling Lions hosted a Thanksgiving Day game to boost attendance, and the idea took off. That game was so popular it became an annual tradition, with the Dallas Cowboys later joining the Thanksgiving lineup in 1966. Today, football is as synonymous with Thanksgiving as turkey and stuffing.

4. The Mysterious Origins of the Turkey Pardon
The annual presidential “turkey pardon” is one of the quirkier traditions of Thanksgiving. But its origins are surprisingly murky. Some trace the tradition to Abraham Lincoln, whose son pleaded for the life of a turkey named Jack. Others credit John F. Kennedy, who spared a turkey in 1963, saying, “We’ll just let this one grow.”

The tradition became official in 1989, when President George H.W. Bush formally pardoned a turkey, kicking off a tradition that continues to this day. Pardoned turkeys now retire to farms or zoos, living out their days far from the Thanksgiving table.

5. The First Macy’s Parade Had No Balloons
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, now known for its giant character balloons, didn’t start that way. The first parade in 1924 featured live animals—including camels, elephants, and monkeys—borrowed from the Central Park Zoo.

It wasn’t until 1927 that balloons made their debut, with Felix the Cat as the first featured character. Over the years, the parade has evolved into a holiday staple, attracting millions of viewers both in person and on TV.

6. Black Friday Wasn’t Always About Shopping
The day after Thanksgiving has become known as Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. But the term originally had nothing to do with sales. In 1869, it referred to a financial crisis caused by two investors who tried to corner the gold market.

The shopping connection didn’t come until the 1960s, when Philadelphia police used the term to describe the heavy traffic caused by post-Thanksgiving shoppers. Retailers soon embraced it, and today, Black Friday is a holiday in its own right—though many now opt to skip the chaos and shop online instead.

7. Thanksgiving’s Menu Was Shaped by Marketing
What we consider a traditional Thanksgiving menu—turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pumpkin pie—wasn’t set in stone until the early 1900s. Much of it was driven by clever marketing. Ocean Spray helped make cranberry sauce a holiday staple, and Libby’s canned pumpkin popularized pumpkin pie.

Even the idea of a large, roasted turkey became part of the tradition thanks to marketing campaigns portraying it as the perfect centerpiece for a family feast. It turns out, our Thanksgiving favorites have just as much to do with branding as they do with history.

8. Other Countries Celebrate Thanksgiving, Too
Though Thanksgiving is closely tied to American history, other countries celebrate similar holidays. Canada has its own Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October, focusing on harvest and gratitude. In Germany, there’s Erntedankfest, which also involves food, music, and festivities.

Japan even celebrates Kinrō Kansha no Hi (Labor Thanksgiving Day) on November 23, honoring laborers and expressing gratitude for hard work. While each country’s traditions differ, the spirit of thankfulness connects them all.

Thanksgiving Is a Living Tradition
Thanksgiving, like all traditions, is constantly evolving. What began as a humble feast has grown into a national holiday filled with family, football, parades, and a little bit of retail madness. While the way we celebrate has changed over time, the heart of the holiday—expressing gratitude—remains the same.

This Thanksgiving, as you gather around the table, take a moment to reflect on the stories behind the traditions and share a few surprising facts with your loved ones. After all, the more we understand the history of a holiday, the richer our celebrations become.

Happy Thanksgiving!