Thanksgiving Day is now a favorite American holiday...but did you know it took awhile to catch on as an annual tradition? According to scholars, the first known Thanksgiving took place on September 8, 1565 in Saint Augustine, Florida when Spanish settlers held a Mass of Thanksgiving after arriving safely in the New World. English settlers in the Virginia Colony held a similar day of thanks in 1619. Two years after that, the colonists at Plymouth Plantation celebrated the most famous Thanksgiving, during 1621. It wasn't until October 3, 1789, that it actually became a holiday, when then President George Washington proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving...but just for that year. In 1795, Washington again proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving, and President John Adams also declared Thanksgivings in 1798 and 1799. After a decade and a half without the celebration taking place at all, President James Madison renewed the tradition in 1814, and even went so far as to declare the holiday twice in 1815! In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln finally proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving that should take place every year. Years later, President Franklin Roosevelt stated that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month - as opposed to landing on the occasional fifth Thursday. Happy Thanksgiving!
A Brief History of Thanksgiving
MVP Realty - Naples, FL
Southwest Florida Homes with Joe Federico
Alamo Infrared, LLC - Midvale, UT
Essential Properties, Inc. - Goodyear, AZ
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday as well. Thanks for the background information on this holiday!
Nov 24, 2009 12:17 PM
Las Vegas, NV
Melinda- Some great information on Thanksgiving and have a great Thanksgiving from Las Vegas Nevada!
VB ;o)
Nov 24, 2009 01:18 PM
Maximum One Executive REALTORS® - Alpharetta, GA
Alpharetta Real Estate Agents & Alpharetta REALTOR
Well done! Thank you for the history lesson. It is very interesting to hear. Happy Thanksgiving!
Nov 24, 2009 02:56 PM
Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR
The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website
The short history of Thanksgiving:
Shopping. Cooking. Praying. Eating. Decorating for Christmas. Watching football. Checking the Black Friday ads. Going to bed early. Getting up and getting Christmas prep over. Leftovers. Back to work.
Nov 24, 2009 11:43 PM
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website
Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA - Murphy, NC
Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
I was just recently in St. Augustine, FL and didn't even realize the connection to T-day. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving.
Nov 25, 2009 02:14 AM
Century-21 Homestar - Geneva, OH
(Geneva Ohio Real Estate Agent)
Melinda thanks for the history lesson and have a great Thanksgiving day.....peace zane
Nov 25, 2009 04:43 AM
Sine & Monaghan Realtors, Real Living - Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Providing the very best of service to Sellers and
According to the HistoryChannel, Roosevelt actually changed the date for a three-year period to the THIRD Thursday of November in an effort to extend the Christmas buying season.
Nov 25, 2009 05:29 AM
Bogna Interiors - Vero Beach, FL
Happy Thanksgiving from FLORIDA. I never new it originated here ! It is a beautiful concept no mater what the reason is !
Nov 25, 2009 08:24 AM
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living
Hi Melinda, thanks for sharing, I didn't know the information about St. Augustine neither. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Nov 25, 2009 12:48 PM
Rainmaker
561,358
561,358
Melinda (Mel) Peterson
The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS
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