The meaning of the Thanksgiving word is an expression of gratitude, as I started my research into this celebration, I learned that the holiday has been celebrated throughout the ages. It started as far back as the 1500’s in the European countries, when colonies and settlers would take a day to celebrate for various reasons, such as the success of their crops, or the ending of a military victory, or the safe arrival of their fleets bringing in the goods for the settlers. For whatever reason was, the day was celebrated with the gathering of families who shared a feast and games, it was a day of coming together and being thankful for their blessings. I learned that Thanksgiving draws from multiple historical threads, but for this blog I'm going to concentrate on Thanksgiving here in America.
Where It All Began in America
Being that the pilgrims migrated from Europe it’s no surprise that they brought the Thanksgiving tradition with them. The first recording of Thanksgiving in America was back in 1621 which involved the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Tribe. They got together for a 3-day celebration. It was a gesture on the Pilgrims side to solidify an alliance, but the peace was short lived.
The Myth Behind the Story
The popular belief that it was a harmonious gathering is far from the truth. This mythical story was created much later to depict a unifying national event, but for many Native Americans this day is a day of mourning. It is a reminder to some tribes of colonization, genocide and the theft of their land.
The Creator Behind America's National Holiday
In the 1840's, a magazine editor by the name of Sarah Josepha Hale became so engrossed by the meaning behind the Thanksgiving celebration that she began a decade long campaign to establish our own national Holiday of Thanksgiving. She felt it was important for us to have a day where we also come together as a nation to be thankful for Americas successes.
Her efforts were successful during the Civil War era when then President Abraham Lincoln agreed with her and declared a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1863 in hopes to help heal the land after the devastating Civil War to be celebrated on Thursday November 26 but in 1939, President Franklin D Roosevelt moved the celebration date to the third Thursday in order to extend the Christmas shopping season. Changing the date was quite controversial but Congress passed a bill in 1941 officially designating the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.
A Holiday is Made
After Thanksgiving became an official holiday families began to gather from far and near to celebrate over a traditional feast that consists of the perfect turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and all the side fixings. But as the country became more urban than the holiday began to evolve, it moved away from what some thought of as just a religious holiday to a more common tradition and other events were added such as Thanksgiving parades and football games, as well as the opening day for the Holiday seasons starting with the Black Friday shopping, twinkling lights on the house, and the blow up reindeer on the front lawns.
The Bountiful Feast
The Turkey remains the centerpiece for the feast, and is often assumed that it originated from the first Thanksgiving celebrated between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people but in truth there is no evidence that a Turkey was served it most likely was a deer brought by the Wampanoag people and possibly fowl which most likely was ducks or geese. But today we keep the assumed tradition of the turkey being the centerpiece.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade in New York City presented by the American-based department store chain Macy's. The Parade first took place in 1924; store employees marched to the Macy Department store on 34th Street. The employees dressed in vibrant costumes; and of course, Santa Claus, who also made his way through the parade so he could be enthroned on the Macy's Balcony. This parade had an audience of 250,000.00 people; the parade was such a success that Macy’s declared that it would become an annual event and in 1948 the parade had its first television appearance. To this day, it continues to be the most famous parade of all besides the television coverage, millions of people have been along the sidelines to watch this fabulous parade. Today the parade consists of floats as well as giant vibrant balloons depicting characters we have all come to love.
Football on Thanksgiving Day Football
The NFL's Thanksgiving Day games have traditionally included one game hosted by the Detroit Lions since 1934, and one game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys. Since 2006, a third game has also been played in prime time on Thanksgiving night. Unlike the two afternoon games, this game has no fixed teams. Fans are just as excited for these games as they are for the Thanksgiving feast.
Thanksgiving Day Preparation
Whether it be the matriarchs of the family or the local chefs, or maybe the spouse running back and forth to the market to pick up a forgotten food item, the meal prep/shopping always begins earlier in the week than the night before the Turkey is prepped and stuffed waiting to be slowly cooked early Thanksgiving morning.
The morning has arrived, and the Turkey is already cooking slowly in the oven plenty of time to settle in for the Macy’s Day Parade, often the parade remains on in the background as the Thanksgiving feast is being prepared. By noon, family members and friends begin to arrive with prepared side dishes even wrapped Christmas gifts from those traveling from afar.
The parade is over the perfect background music playing, for you it may be easy listening, Frank Sinatra or maybe even Christmas music. The table is set while family and friends are catching up as the aromas coming from the kitchen have everyone anticipating their favorites.
The Turkey is placed on the table and family, and friends gather around the table, some families begin with a prayer, or others may begin with what each one is thankful for. Then the feast begins, pass the rolls, the green bean casserole, please put some gravy on my turkey and mashed potatoes. The dinner that took so long to cook and so far for some to come for is quickly over and it's time to move onto the desserts, most famously the pumpkin pie. Grab your slice and move onto the board games or for many the Thanksgiving Day Football game.
To this day, it remains a day to be thankful for. A day of remembrance for what is and what was. And we, here at Chino Hills along with our wonderful customers, also remember the less fortunate by collecting food for our local food bank and soup kitchen. We do what we can for others who are not able.
Chino Hills Self Storage
In closing, the staff at Chino Hills Self Storage want to wish you and yours a beautiful upcoming Thanksgiving Day. May your day be a gathering fulfilled with all that you expect it to be, good food, great company and lasting memories.
