All the cultures existing in the world has some history connected to it. Similarly, there is a history of Thanksgiving Day. That is a national holiday in the USA. For about 400 years ago, happy Thanksgiving Day was popular to be based on American thanksgiving food. This is what happened in the early days of the American Colonies. Actually, the story getting told in schools is a mythologized version. That downplays the real bleaker history behind the first thanksgiving. For sure, there are different and fun thanksgiving decorations that make the celebration greater. In this writ, you will get to know thanksgiving meaning and the history behind it.
First Thanksgiving Legend:
The history of thanksgiving is the basis of the first thanksgiving legend. In the year 1690, a boat was going equipped with hundred plus people. They were sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to begin their new life in new world. This was a religious group. They begun questioning the teachings and beliefs of Church of England. Actually, they want to get separated from it.
The pilgrims got set in the recent state of Massachusetts. They really felt difficult to spend winter in the new world. They reached their quite late that they can grow crops. As a consequent, half of the colony died. There was no fresh food and people begin suffering from diseases. In the following season, spring, the Wampanoag Iroquois Indians taught them the way to grow maize. That was a new food for those colonists. Furthermore, they also showed the way to grow other crops. This was in a bit unfamiliar soil and the method of hunting fish.
After this, in autumn of 1621, the crops of corn, beans, pumpkin, and barley grew in ample amount. In this regard, those colonists were having enough to be thankful about. So as a consequent, they planned a thanksgiving food feast.
In that happy thanksgiving food fiesta, the Native Americans served deer to roast with turkeys and several other wild dishes. The colonists learnt the way to cook cranberries. Also they get to know about varied sorts of corn and other squash dishes from Indians. This was the first Thanksgiving Day in which special American thanksgiving decorations happen.
After this, several original colonists usually begin to celebrate the autumn harvest with happy thanksgiving food. This is how the history of thanksgiving set.
A Bitter Truth:
Although, the fact is that, the Pilgrims were not actually the first emigrants who celebrate happy Thanksgiving Day. Probably, those were the people who belong to the Popham Maine colony. The ones ho celebrated their arrival day in the year 1607. Afterwards, the pilgrims did not celebrate the American Thanksgiving Day. In fact, they celebrated the defeat of Wampanoag neighbors.
The thanksgiving decoration and celebration in the year 1676 was something memorable. It is because after the American thanksgiving feast. The rangers sent for fighting and defeating the Wampanoag. They were who bring back the leader Metacom. He was knows as an English name King Philip. This is the harsh history of thanksgiving. It is because of which the first thanksgiving happens. Also, this is how the thanksgiving meaning set.
Thanksgiving meaning is to celebrate a day for thanking the people who helped you in difficult times. This is why whole USA celebrates happy Thanksgiving Day. It also includes doing a lot of thanksgiving decorations and preparing thanksgiving food. The history of thanksgiving is bitter but quite memorable to always remember. This all increases and warms the thanksgiving meaning.
Additionally, this holiday get continued as a norm in New England. However, the bad point is that some people do not celebrate it with their families and thanksgiving food. It get lost in the history of thanksgiving. Before 19th century, the rowdy drunk men came to door begging for feasts and treats. This was the way various American holidays were celebrated that includes Christmas, New Year eve, and a lot more.
The New Nation Celebration:
By the mid of 18th century, the rowdy drunk behavior got judge as a misrule quite closer to the though we have for Halloween. The new nation thanksgiving meaning was also new. They established a mummer’s parade that is a result of cross-dressing men was name as Fantastical. It came into being in 1780. It was something quite better than the rowdy drunk people. However, we can mention it like these two things are still a part of American thanksgiving celebrations.
As the USA became an independent country, the congress party came up with a suggestion. It was of one day in whole year should be name and celebrate as happy Thanksgiving Day. Further, in the year 1789, George Washington gave the date of American Thanksgiving Day. This was 26th of November. This is all after the history of thanksgiving.
Invention of Thanksgiving:
In the year 1846, Sarah Josepha hale, who is the editor of Godey’s magazine. She published an article that was first writ. That write was motivating the celebration of American festival, happy thanksgiving. She mentioned clearly the thanksgiving meaning to make people properly understand about it. She was hopeful that it will be helpful for averting the civil war. After that, in the tear 1863, in between the civil war, Abraham Lincoln said all the Americans to declare the last Thursday of November as the Thanksgiving Day. As it was the first thanksgiving celebration. He was also expecting for special thanksgiving decorations.
Common Thanksgiving Traditions:
In most of the American households, the thanksgiving celebration has lost its charms as it was in first thanksgiving eve. Now people do not value it as their original and regional festival. Rather than this, now this festival sets of cooking and sharing a lot of delicious meals with friends and family. Also, thanksgiving decorations included. Turkey is now the synonym of this holiday. Even if in reality if it was not offer to the pilgrims. Now 90% of the Americans eat roasted baked, or deep fried. Besides this, the other traditional foods include stuffed mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce. The common activity of thanksgiving festival is volunteering. For the less fortunate, the communities mostly hold food and dinners for hosts.
Final Words:
This is actually the history of thanksgiving. The tales getting told at schools are mostly myths and not true. Yes, for sure it is a bit dry and harsh but this is the actual reality. However, now the people of the US celebrate this festival with full swing.
