Thanksgiving's Evolution: From Pilgrim Feasts to National Traditions

Tracing Thanksgiving's journey from its colonial origins to its establishment as a national holiday and its unique role in American culture.

Thanksgiving began as a harvest festival celebrated by Pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621, evolving over centuries into a national holiday.
George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789, calling for gratitude and unity in the new nation.
Abraham Lincoln officially established Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863, influenced by Sarah Josepha Hale's decades-long advocacy.
Modern Thanksgiving traditions include the presidential turkey pardon, a practice formalized by George H. W. Bush in 1989 and continued by subsequent presidents, including Joe Biden in 2024.
Thanksgiving has long been embraced by diverse communities, including American Jews, who celebrate it as an expression of gratitude for religious freedom and safety in the U.S.