Thanksgiving Facts

Happy Thanksgiving

 Nov. 19,  2013

Thanksgiving, a time to acknowledge what’s precious in your life, is traditionally known as a time of gathering and feasting. Thanksgiving Day originated in the New World and has been celebrated since the 17^th century. Although the first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in 1621 when the Plymouth pilgrims shared an autumn feast with their Native American neighbors, today it is the holiday season gateway.

Throughout the United States it has acquired a range of seasonal traditions, including parades, football, travel, and shopping.

Here are some of those newer elements:

1.  Since the 1930’s, the Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as Black Friday. On this day stores look to make record sales for the year.
2.  Thanksgiving Day, not the day before Thanksgiving, is the busiest travel day of the Thanksgiving season.
3.  The first Thanksgiving football game in 1876 was Yale versus Princeton.
4.   “Unthanksgiving Day”, held every year on the island of Alcatraz since 1975, commemorates the survival of Native Americans following the arrival and settlement of Europeans in the Americas.  

Whatever your plans for the season, we hope they are happy.