Like many people in the United States of America – not everybody – but many take time to celebrate the last Thursday of November for Thanksgiving to honor the day Native Americans and Pilgrims ate pumpkin pie, turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy and cranberry sauce.
Wow, this is far from the truth. So here are five historical facts about Thanksgiving and about your turkey.
1. Thanksgiving is a day to remember the Pilgrims:
Actually, when Abraham Lincoln proposed the national holiday in 1862, Thanksgiving was created to bring the nation together after the Civil War.
In fact, according to historians, in 1621 when the feast occurred, there were no prayers or giving thanks during the feast.
2. Native Americans celebrate Thanksgiving:
No, not really. Indigenous tribes in the states take this time to mourn the deaths of their ancestors that died in the hands of the Pilgrims that killed 400-700 Pequot tribal members (mostly women and children were burned or taken as slaves while the men were hunting and preparing for war) in 1670.
They also mourn the 90 percent of other Native American tribes, who were killed by plagues brought by the Europeans and genocides in the Americas.
3. The Pilgrims and Native Americans ate Turkey:
Well, there is no proof that turkey was eaten. And there isn’t any proof that pernil was served either – even though I love my pernil with some moro (yum, yum).
But there are documents of the Wampanog (Native American tribe), who brought several reindeers to the feast.
4. After the feast the Pilgrims and the tribal leaders played football:
Unfortunately, it is not true. American football was invented in 1820 and the feast happened way, way, way before then. The Pilgrims did play a game more American than football; they shot their guns for fun. #TrueStory
5. Turkey makes you sleepy:
Uuumm, no. The turkey doesn’t have enough tryptophan (that’s the amino acid that’s supposed to make you sleepy) to put you out for the night.
The sleepiness that you feel is from eating too much. But if you have something against turkey then know this: The turkey that you eat, which are usually commercial turkeys (unless you buy grass fed fowl) weigh around 30 pounds and live less than six months.
Wild turkeys that don’t grow in turkey farms weigh 12 pounds and live healthily for 44 months… I think I’ll stick with the salad.
(Updated} Other little known facts on Thanksgiving:
- Thanksgiving was not always fixed on the fourth Thursday of November: The date of Thanksgiving was a subject of controversy for many years. It was initially established by President Abraham Lincoln as the final Thursday in November, but in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it up a week to boost the economy during the Great Depression. This caused confusion and opposition, and in 1941, the U.S. Congress officially set the date as the fourth Thursday in November.
- Thanksgiving used to be a movable feast: Before Thanksgiving was officially scheduled on a specific date, individual states used to determine when they would celebrate it. This led to a lack of uniformity across the country, with some states celebrating earlier or later than others.
- Thanksgiving wasn’t always about turkey: While turkey has become the quintessential Thanksgiving dish, it wasn’t present at the first Thanksgiving in 1621. The menu likely included a variety of wild game, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. Turkey only became a staple in the 19th century.
- Sarah Josepha Hale, the “Godmother of Thanksgiving”: Thanksgiving might not be a national holiday if it weren’t for Sarah Josepha Hale. She campaigned for its recognition for nearly 40 years, writing letters to politicians, including President Lincoln. Her efforts ultimately led to the establishment of Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863.
- The first Thanksgiving was a three-day feast: The first Thanksgiving celebration between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Native Americans in 1621 wasn’t just a one-day event. It spanned three days, involving feasting, games, and other festivities.
- Thanksgiving parades were started by department stores: The first Thanksgiving Day parade was organized by Gimbels department store in Philadelphia in 1920. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City began in 1924. These parades were initially designed as a way for department stores to attract customers and promote the Christmas shopping season.
- Turkey trot traditions: Many communities host “turkey trot” races on Thanksgiving Day, where people participate in a run or walk before indulging in a big meal. The concept originated in Buffalo, New York, in 1896, when a group of friends organized a race before their Thanksgiving feast.
- Presidential turkey pardon tradition: While the official “turkey pardon” ceremony has become a lighthearted tradition, the first documented instance of a president sparing a Thanksgiving turkey was President John F. Kennedy in 1963. The ceremony became an annual event under President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
- Thanksgiving Day football: Watching football on Thanksgiving has become a beloved tradition in many American households. The tradition started in 1876 when Yale and Princeton played the first Thanksgiving Day football game. Today, the NFL hosts several games on Thanksgiving Day.
- Thanksgiving in space: Astronauts on the International Space Station celebrate Thanksgiving, too. They have special Thanksgiving menus, including rehydratable turkey, mashed potatoes, and other traditional dishes, packaged for consumption in microgravity.
