Nov. 26, 1789: President George Washington, in a response to Congress, declared this date a Day of Publick Thanksgivin [sic].
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving as the last Thursday in November. This was followed for the next 75 years.
Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who wrote the song “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” wrote letters for 17 years campaigning to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, which occurred in 1863.
President Franklin Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving to the second to last Thursday in November, in an effort to extend the shopping season before Christmas, a tradition that has not changed since. Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird, not the eagle.
Americans eat 46 million turkeys each Thanksgiving. The first Thanksgiving was held in the Autumn of 1621 and included 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians and lasted three days. Many historians believe that only five women were present as many women settlers didn’t survive that difficult first year in the U.S.
In 1953, Swanson had 260 extra tons of extra turkey after Thanksgiving. A salesman told them they should package it onto aluminum trays with other sides like sweet potatoes – and the first TV dinner was born!
The first Presidential turkey pardon ceremony started in 1947 with President Truman.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 with 400 employees marching in it featuring only live animals from the Central Park Zoo.
The NFL started the Thanksgiving Classic games in 1920.
Californians consume the most turkey in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day.
Black Friday is the busiest day of the year according to Roto-Rooter, the nation’s largest plumbing service.
Why is it called a turkey? Back in the day, the Europeans took a liking to the guinea fowls imported to the continent. Since the birds were imported by Turkish merchants, the English called them turkeys. Later, when the Spaniards came to America, they found a bird that tasted like those guinea fowls. When they were sent to Europe, the English called these birds “turkeys” as well.
