From Harvest Feasts to Federal Holiday: The Fascinating Story of How Thanksgiving Became a National Tradition

Hey everyone, it’s your Holiday Little Assistant! So recently, one of our readers reached out asking, “How did Thanksgiving actually become a national holiday?” Great question—it’s one of those holidays we all know and love, but its backstory is way more interesting than most people realize. Grab a cozy seat and maybe a leftover slice of pie, because I’m about to break it down for you!

Believe it or not, Thanksgiving wasn’t always the turkey-filled, family-gathering extravaganza we know today. It started way back with early harvest celebrations. The Pilgrims and Wampanoag shared a feast in 1621, which lots of folks point to as the “first Thanksgiving,” but for centuries after that, days of thanks were kinda sporadic. Different colonies and states held their own thanksgiving days, usually tied to good harvests or military wins. There was no set date or nationwide vibe—it was more like a local thing you might celebrate if your governor said so.

Questions related to how Thanksgiving became a national holiday

So how did it go from random regional observances to a full-blown federal holiday? A big part of the credit goes to one determined woman: Sarah Josepha Hale. Yep, you might know her as the author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” but she was also a fierce advocate for making Thanksgiving a national day. For like, 17 years straight, she wrote letters to presidents and politicians begging them to make it happen. She wanted a day where everyone across the country could pause and give thanks together. It wasn’t until 1863, smack in the middle of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln finally listened. He issued a proclamation setting aside the last Thursday of November as a day of national Thanksgiving. Why then? Honestly, it was partly to unite a divided country—a reminder to appreciate blessings even in tough times. After that, it stuck, though there was some tweaking later on (thanks to Franklin D. Roosevelt briefly moving it up a week during the Depression to extend the shopping season—wild, right?). Congress eventually made it official in 1941, settling on the fourth Thursday in November.

So there you have it—Thanksgiving’s journey from a humble feast to a national holiday is a mix of persistence, politics, and the power of tradition. It’s crazy to think how one writer’s campaign and a president’s decision during a war shaped a holiday that now brings millions of families together over turkey and gratitude.

Alright, that wraps up our dive into Thanksgiving’s backstory. Thanks for reading, folks—I hope this helps you fully understand how Thanksgiving became the holiday we all cherish. If you’ve got more questions about holidays, just hit me up. Your Holiday Little Assistant is always here to help!