Thanksgiving Day: The Story Behind its Origins, Celebration, & More

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Thanksgiving Day 2023 is finally here. Just a few days before Black Friday officially kicks off, families and friends across the United States and Canada will come together to dine, express gratitude for the good things that the past year has brought, and share the season’s highlight: a stuffed turkey served with cranberry sauce. 

We currently see Thanksgiving portrayed in movies like Funny People, Free Birds, Four Brothers, or TV shows like Friends and The Simpsons. But do you truly understand why families and groups of friends unite on this special day? Do you know when it’s celebrated and the origins of Thanksgiving, including the countries where it’s observed? If not, keep reading because we’re about to give you a comprehensive overview of this holiday. 

The Roots of Thanksgiving 

The act of giving thanks to God or Mother Nature for bountiful harvests dates back many centuries. However, historians trace the modern origin of Thanksgiving to around 1620 when a group of Puritan settlers from the United Kingdom left their homeland to journey to the New World in search of opportunities and religious freedom, enabling them to break free from the established church in their country. 

These settlers, who would later be known as Pilgrims, intended to reach Jamestown, Virginia, but a storm diverted them from their course, and they ultimately landed on the shores of Plymouth, Massachusetts, where they established a camp. The new settlers faced hardships during a harsh and lengthy first winter. However, with the arrival of spring and the assistance of the Wampanoag Native Americans in the area, the colonists were able to plant some corn crops, which allowed them to feed their people and lay the foundation for what would eventually become their home. 

In the autumn of 1621, as a gesture of gratitude for what the Native people of Plymouth had done for them, the Pilgrims invited their newfound neighbors to a feast in which the turkey played a prominent role. They also enjoyed nuts, goose, clams, and even lobsters – all delicacies of the time! 

Thanksgiving, Celebrated on the Fourth Thursday of November 

Although the origins of Thanksgiving date back to the 17th century, it wasn’t until the second half of the 19th century that this holiday was established on the fourth Thursday of November in the U.S. labor calendar. Previously, in 1623, just two years after the first grand thanksgiving feast, Governor Bradford, leader of the Puritan Pilgrims who had arrived in Plymouth, had set this holiday on July 30, leading to an irregular celebration of this tradition. 

Later, in 1789, the first President of the United States, George Washington, aimed to turn this small commemoration into a national holiday intended to give thanks to God for victory in war, peace, and prosperity. However, it wouldn’t be until almost a century later, in 1868, when another president, Abraham Lincoln, proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day –this year, November 23, 2023– establishing it as a solid tradition of gratitude to God in the United States and later, thanks to cinema, spreading it worldwide. 

Traditions of the Thanksgiving Dinner 

Here in the United States, Thanksgiving traditions run deep. The most iconic aspect of this day is gathering for a collective prayer to thank God for His blessings, followed by a hearty roasted turkey. However, it’s not served as a standalone dish. Historically, families have come together around the table to enjoy a grand feast that usually includes mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, seasonal oven-roasted vegetables (especially green beans), cider, champagne, and red wine. 

To conclude the grand feast, a variety of desserts made with seasonal ingredients are served. The most typical is pumpkin pie, closely associated with this time of year. Still, you’ll also commonly find pecan pies, apple pies, blackberry cobblers, and sweet potato pies. 

The Pardoned Turkey: A Television Highlight 

Another significant moment during Thanksgiving is the turkey pardon. Although it may seem somewhat ironic, since 1989, every year, the President of the United States steps out into the White House garden a few days before the Thanksgiving dinner celebration to perform what’s known as the turkey pardon. 

This year, on his 81st birthday, Joe Biden publicly spared the lives of ‘Liberty’ and ‘Bell,’ two animals of this highly sought-after species during this time. After the leader of their country’s blessing, they have been set free forever and will live in what could resemble a five-star hotel for humans, but in an avian version. 

Thanksgiving in Canada, Japan, and Germany 

Beyond the United States, Thanksgiving is also celebrated in Canada, where the 2023 event has already passed. In Canada, families gather to celebrate on the second Monday in October, not the third Thursday of October. However, the tradition is quite similar. 

In Germany, the last Sunday in September or the first in October marks the annual Harvest Festival, or Erntedankfest. This celebration solely aims to thank the gods and nature for providing farmers with a rich and abundant harvest. 

In Japan, it’s celebrated on November 23, provided it’s not a Sunday when the holiday is moved to Monday. Known as Labor Thanksgiving Day, it’s a day when the Japanese do not work but instead express gratitude to the divine for their employment and the fruits it brings them.

Original article in Spanish by Carolina Martinez for LOS40.