Beech Tree News Network

In a few days people around the nation and in Kentucky will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving.  While the modern day tradition of Thanksgiving is usually marked by football, Black Friday, and leftovers, the history of this holiday is steeped in the fabric of our nation during both good and bad times.
 

The history of Thanksgiving in America, while not exact on the specifics, traces back to the 1600’s when Puritans and Pilgrims decided to carry on the tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving they had celebrated in England.  The first such Thanksgiving celebration took place in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

For many years following that first Thanksgiving, the date it was marked varied from state to state.  But it was President Abraham Lincoln who first sought to set a permanent date in November for the nation to give thanks during the midst of the Civil War, signing a presidential declaration in 1863.  Lincoln’s belief was that establishing the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving would bring a sense of unity to the North and South, although all the states would not celebrate the holiday together until the 1870’s.

The tradition of marking Thanksgiving in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November also came during a time of great strife, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint proclamation 19 days following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The United States is not the only country to set aside a day for Thanksgiving.  In Canada Thanksgiving is held on the second Monday in October and is marked as a day of celebration for the end of the harvest season.  And in Germany the holiday, which is called ‘Erntedankfest,’ or Harvest Thanksgiving Festival is held in early October.

In other places Thanksgiving is tied directly to the traditional holiday in our country.  Japan celebrates Labor Thanksgiving Day on November 23.  While the holiday was established by law during the American occupation in post-World War II, Japan’s holiday is more to commemorate labor and production.  Grenada also celebrates Thanksgiving Day on October 25, but their holiday is to mark the U.S. led invasion of their country in 1983.

Whether it’s to celebrate freedom, liberation, or hard work Thanksgiving is a time to simply give thanks for family and friends.  I hope you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving.

I welcome your comments and concerns on any issues throughout the year impacting our Commonwealth.  I can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181, or you can contact me via e-mail at [email protected]. You can keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at www.lrc.ky.gov.