ClassX Video Lessons How Thanksgiving Became a Holiday in America: Why is Thanksgiving the Fourth Thursday?
Thanksgiving is a special holiday in the United States where families come together to enjoy a big meal and have fun. But have you ever wondered how this holiday started and became what it is today?
The story of Thanksgiving begins in 1621. The Pilgrims, who traveled on a ship called the Mayflower, held a big feast to celebrate their first successful harvest in their new home. Back then, days of thanksgiving were more about praying and fasting to thank God for good things like rain or a good harvest.
In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, a special day of thanksgiving was declared to celebrate a big victory at the Battle of Saratoga. After that, more thanksgiving days were celebrated, like in 1782 when the British decided to end the war. Even presidents like George Washington declared thanksgiving days, but there was a long break before another president did the same.
In the 1800s, different states started having their own Thanksgiving holidays, but they were on different days. Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor who also wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” wanted Thanksgiving to be a national holiday. She worked hard for 17 years, writing letters and articles to convince leaders to make it happen.
In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving. He hoped it would help bring the country together during tough times. This made Thanksgiving the third national holiday in the U.S., along with Washington’s Birthday and Independence Day.
Thanksgiving was celebrated on the last Thursday of November until the 1930s. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it to the fourth Thursday to help businesses by giving people more time to shop for Christmas. Some states didn’t like this change, but in 1941, Congress made it official: Thanksgiving would be on the fourth Thursday of November.
Today, Thanksgiving is a day for relaxing and celebrating. Families gather for a big meal, watch football games, and enjoy parades. Most importantly, it’s a time to be thankful for all the good things in our lives.
In conclusion, Thanksgiving has a rich history that started with early harvest celebrations and grew into the holiday we love today. It’s a time to remember and be grateful for all our blessings.
Create a Thanksgiving Timeline: Using a long piece of paper or a string, create a timeline of the history of Thanksgiving. Write down important events like the Pilgrims’ first feast in 1621, George Washington’s declaration, and Lincoln’s proclamation. Draw pictures or use stickers to represent each event. This will help you visualize how Thanksgiving has changed over time.
Thanksgiving Traditions Around You: Ask your family or friends about their Thanksgiving traditions. Do they have any special foods they eat or activities they do every year? Write down or draw what you learn. Then, think about why these traditions might be important to them and how they connect to the history of Thanksgiving.
Gratitude Journal: Start a gratitude journal where you write or draw something you are thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving. Think about how the Pilgrims and early Americans were thankful for their harvests and victories. Share your journal with your family on Thanksgiving Day to celebrate all the good things in your life.
