It’s that time of year again: beautifully colored leaves cover the ground, department stores have already decorated for Christmas, and students are long overdue for a break from midterms. Thanksgiving is (#thankfully) fast approaching.
Most of us think of a very Pocahontas-like First Thanksgiving, where Pilgrims and Native Americans gathered together in peace to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. According to the history books, the meal took place in Plymouth Colony (present-day Massachusetts) in 1621. Over 200 years later, President Lincoln declared the fourth Thursday of November national day of thanksgiving. Another 120 years after that, in 1941, Congress made Thanksgiving an official national holiday. However, there are some facts that the history books and yearly reenactments leave out.
Bye, Bye Birdie
The National Turkey Foundation estimates that around 46 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving. That means that over 500 turkeys are eaten every second of the National Holiday. About 1/5 of American’s yearly turkey consumption is done in just one day.
Too much turkey = TV Dinners
Someone at Swanson obviously didn’t have access to these estimates in 1953—the company overestimated consumption and had 260 tons of leftover turkey! Company salesman Garry Thomas found a solution: an assembly line of women equipped with ice cream scoopers and 5000 aluminum trays later, the first frozen TV dinner was born.
Origins of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The annual march began in 1924 and was originally known as Macy’s Christmas Parade, signifying the beginning of the holiday shopping season. It’s participants were first-generation immigrants working in the store and borrowed animals from New York City’s Central Park Zoo. The parade has been a Thanksgiving tradition every year since, except for the years during World War II. Nearly 3 million people line the streets, and over 44 million more watch the parade on television.
Thanksgiving in Westminster Abbey
In 1942, over 3500 American soldiers celebrated Thanksgiving in the famed Westminster Abbey Cathedral while fighting in World War II. The event was rather ironic, given the fact that the holiday was originally a feast celebrated by pilgrims fleeing religious persecution in Britain.
Pardon my Fowl
Every year, as per White House tradition, the United States President pardons a turkey from becoming Thanksgiving dinner. President Harry Truman officially started this tradition in 1947. Many historians, though, trace the origins back to President Lincoln, who supposedly pardoned his son Tad’s pet turkey in the 1860s.
Photo inside story: http://blogs.courant.com/roger_catlin_tv_eye/2010/11/on-tonight-charlie-brown-thank.html
Photo thumbnail: http://primoclipart.com/view-clipart/happy-thanksgiving-turkey