The History of Thanksgiving: How Long Has It Been a US Holiday?

Hey there, holiday lovers! It’s your Holiday Little Assistant back with another deep dive into America’s favorite festivities. Today we’re tackling a question that comes up every November: “How long has Thanksgiving been a holiday in the US?” Grab some pumpkin pie and let’s time travel through turkey day history!

Believe it or not, the roots of Thanksgiving stretch way back before the United States even existed. The famous “first Thanksgiving” between Pilgrims and Wampanoag Native Americans happened in 1621 in Plymouth (that’s 403 years ago at the time I’m writing this!). But here’s the thing – that was just a harvest celebration, not an official holiday. It would take centuries before Thanksgiving became the national event we know today.

When Did Thanksgiving Actually Become a National Holiday?

The real game-changer came in 1863 – smack in the middle of the Civil War – when President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. That makes 2023 the 160th anniversary of Thanksgiving as an official US holiday. Pretty amazing when you think about it! Before Lincoln, different states celebrated Thanksgiving at different times (if at all). Sarah Josepha Hale (the “Mother of Thanksgiving”) campaigned for decades to make it a unified national tradition.

Fun Turkey Day Timeline

• 1621: First Thanksgiving feast in Plymouth (3 days long!)
• 1777-1783: Continental Congress declared several Thanksgiving days during the Revolution
• 1789: George Washington proclaimed first national Thanksgiving
• 1846: Sarah Josepha Hale begins her Thanksgiving campaign
• 1863: Lincoln makes it official
• 1939: FDR temporarily moves it up a week to extend Christmas shopping (“Franksgiving” anyone?)
• 1941: Congress permanently sets Thanksgiving as the 4th Thursday in November

So while we’ve had Thanksgiving-style celebrations for over 400 years, it’s officially been a unified American holiday for about 160 years. The traditions have evolved (football anyone?), but the spirit of gratitude remains the same. And speaking of traditions – did you know the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1924? Or that the presidential turkey pardon began with Harry Truman? There’s always more to learn about this delicious slice of American history!

Whether you’re researching for school, settling a family debate, or just love holiday trivia, I hope this gives you the full scoop on Thanksgiving’s journey from harvest festival to national holiday. From all of us here at [Your Website Name], have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble!

FAQpro Thank you for reading, I hope this article can help you fully understand the history of Thanksgiving in the US, if you have more questions about holiday origins or traditions, please contact us.