What are 5 true facts about Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is one of the most cherished holidays in the United States, celebrated with family, food, and a spirit of gratitude. Over the years, myths and misconceptions have grown around its origins and traditions. To help separate fact from fiction, here are five true facts about Thanksgiving, each shedding light on the holiday’s historical roots, evolution, and cultural significance.

1. The First Thanksgiving Was a Three-Day Harvest Celebration

The commonly told story of the “First Thanksgiving” centers on a shared meal between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in 1621 at Plymouth, in present-day Massachusetts. What is true is that this event was a three-day harvest celebration. According to historical accounts, the Pilgrims, who had survived their first harsh winter with the help of the Wampanoag, gathered to give thanks for their successful harvest. The Wampanoag leader Massasoit and about 90 of his people attended, contributing food and joining the festivities. This gathering was not called “Thanksgiving” at the time, but it laid the groundwork for later holiday traditions.

2. Turkey Was Not the Main Dish at the First Thanksgiving

While turkey is the centerpiece of most modern Thanksgiving meals, it was likely not the main dish in 1621. Contemporary accounts mention wildfowl, but this could have included ducks, geese, and swans, as well as turkey. The menu probably featured venison, brought by the Wampanoag, along with seafood like fish and shellfish, and native crops such as corn, beans, and squash. There were no mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, or pumpkin pie, as these required ingredients and cooking techniques not yet available to the settlers. The emphasis on turkey came much later as the holiday evolved.

3. Abraham Lincoln Made Thanksgiving a National Holiday

Although various colonies and states had observed days of thanksgiving for centuries, Thanksgiving did not become an official national holiday until the 19th century. It was President Abraham Lincoln, in 1863 during the Civil War, who proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be observed on the final Thursday of November. Lincoln’s proclamation, influenced by the persistent campaigning of writer Sarah Josepha Hale, aimed to foster unity and gratitude during a time of national turmoil. Before Lincoln’s declaration, Thanksgiving celebrations varied by region and were not coordinated across the country.

4. The Date of Thanksgiving Has Changed Over Time

Thanksgiving’s date has not always been fixed. After Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation, it was traditionally celebrated on the last Thursday of November. However, in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday up one week to stimulate retail sales during the Great Depression, creating what was known as “Franksgiving.” This change was controversial, and after a few years of confusion, Congress passed a law in 1941 establishing Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November, where it remains today.

5. Thanksgiving Is Celebrated in Different Forms Around the World

While Thanksgiving is most associated with the United States, other countries observe similar harvest festivals or days of gratitude. Canada celebrates its own Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October, with origins linked to both European harvest festivals and early explorations. In Germany, “Erntedankfest” is a traditional harvest thanksgiving observed in late September or early October. Other countries, such as Japan (Labor Thanksgiving Day) and Liberia, have their own versions of giving thanks. These worldwide celebrations highlight the universal human impulse to express gratitude for abundance and community.

Conclusion: Thanksgiving’s True Legacy

From its beginnings as a multi-day harvest feast to its status as a national holiday and its global counterparts, Thanksgiving reflects the enduring power of thankfulness. Understanding the true facts about Thanksgiving helps us appreciate its rich and sometimes complicated history—and reminds us of the importance of giving thanks, not just on one day, but throughout the year.