This Thursday we celebrate Thanksgiving. This holiday is one of the oldest in American culture and typically consists of a huge feast and giving thanks. Along with this, there are many other traditions that surround the day. The history of the holiday is commonly known by many; the Pilgrims and Native Americans came together for a celebratory feast. As the holiday continued, many other historic moments surrounded the day. Here are some fun facts about the day that you may not have known previously.
Do you know what marks the day of Thanksgiving annually?
Thanksgiving Day is one of those holidays that is a floating day, always celebrated around the same time, but on different dates. The defining trait that sets the date is often debated, is it the third Thursday in November? Is it the final Thursday? Well, it is actually the fourth Thursday in November. This means that sometimes, it does work out to be the last one of the month, but not always. For example, this year it is not the last Thursday, as there are five Thursdays in November this year.
Did you know that Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird, not the bald eagle?
Is Macy’s the first department store to sponsor a Thanksgiving parade?
Contrary to popular belief, it actually is not! Gimbel’s, a Philadelphia based department store sponsored a parade in 1920. Macy’s did not sponsor the now Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade until 1924. The Gimbel’s parade did not gain the notoriety that the Macy’s parade now holds, as it has become a national televised tradition.
Have turkeys ever been to Disney World?
Surprisingly enough, they have! In 2007, the president at the time, George W. Bush, practiced the traditional presidential pardon and pardoned two turkeys, May and Flower. However, that year the pardoning was different. Rather than going back home to a farm to live peacefully, the turkeys were first sent to Orlando, Florida. The Turkeys had been invited to serve as honorary grand marshals for Disney World’s Thanksgiving Parade.
What started the football Thanksgiving tradition?
Football has become an American tradition on Thanksgiving Day. Many families and friends host their own football games to celebrate the day, but an NFL game is also famously always played. However, the NFL did not start the tradition. College football is actually the originator of a game on Thanksgiving. Since it started, college football leagues have played a game on the holiday. It was not until 1934 that the NFL too joined in on the tradition.
