Fun Facts About Thanksgiving

  • The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 over a three day harvest festival. …
  • Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. …
  • Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863. …
  • The history of U.S. presidents pardoning turkeys is patchy.

As we celebrate our first “pandemic” Thanksgiving, it’s good to remember the past.  The event that Americans commonly call the “First Thanksgiving” was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. This feast lasted three days, and—as recounted by attendee Edward Winslow—was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims.

One of my main memories from my childhood is that we always had ham when we ate at home, because my dad did not like turkey. As a result, ham is my favorite holiday or party food.  I always remember as well the joys of Thanksgiving in a large family so that while you ate at home first, you also visited lots of relatives over the Thanksgiving weekend, so it was a massive feast.  While we may be limited this year to how many gather around the table, or be unable to visit others, it is still a time to be thankful.  Miracles come from gratitude and faith!

 Happy Thanksgiving everyone!