Sangamon Sun

Thanksgiving is a significant national holiday in the United States, observed this year on Thursday, November 28, 2024. Its origins trace back to 1621 when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag people shared an autumn harvest feast. This event is recognized as one of the earliest Thanksgiving celebrations in American history.

The Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth in December 1620 and faced severe hardships during their first winter, which claimed nearly half their community due to food scarcity and freezing conditions. In spring, the Wampanoag people, led by Chief Massasoit and aided by interpreter Squanto, helped the settlers by teaching them essential skills for farming, hunting, and fishing. This cooperation resulted in a three-day feast featuring wild game, seafood, corn, squash, and other local produce. It marked a rare moment of harmony between two cultures.

Although Thanksgiving celebrations continued sporadically across various colonies, it was not until President George Washington's 1789 proclamation that a national day of thanks was formally observed. However, the holiday lost favor during the early 19th century.

Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey's Lady's Book, campaigned tirelessly for a national Thanksgiving holiday. She saw it as a unifying tradition during the divisive years of the Civil War. Her efforts succeeded in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving to inspire national unity. President Franklin D. Roosevelt later adjusted the date to the fourth Thursday of November in 1942.

Abraham Lincoln's official proclamation stated: "The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with blessings... I do therefore invite my fellow citizens...to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving..."

Thanksgiving serves as a reminder to reflect on life's blessings such as family, friends, health, and freedom. It encourages cherishing connections and extending kindness to those in need through acts like food drives and community dinners.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving 2024, take time to appreciate our shared history that binds us together despite differences and keeps gratitude at our communities' heart.