Did Abraham Lincoln Make Thanksgiving a Holiday?
Thanksgiving, a day of feasting, family gatherings, and expressing gratitude, is a cherished tradition in the United States. Many people wonder whether it was Abraham Lincoln who made Thanksgiving a national holiday. The answer to this question is not straightforward, as the origins of Thanksgiving can be traced back to several events and individuals.
The tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving dates back to the early 17th century when the Pilgrims, a group of English settlers, shared a harvest feast with the Wampanoag Native Americans in 1621. This event is often considered the first Thanksgiving in what is now the United States. However, the celebration was not an annual event and was not widely observed during the colonial period.
The idea of a national Thanksgiving holiday gained momentum in the 19th century, primarily through the efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer and editor. She advocated for a national Thanksgiving day in her editorials and writings, hoping to bring the country together during times of crisis. Hale’s persistence finally paid off when President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
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October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring Thanksgiving Day to be observed on the final Thursday of November. This declaration was made during the Civil War, a time of great hardship and division in the country. Lincoln’s intention was to bring the nation together in a spirit of gratitude and unity.
While Lincoln’s proclamation was a significant step in establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday, it was not the first time the idea was proposed. In 1777, the Continental Congress passed a resolution designating November 26 as a day of thanksgiving to celebrate the nation’s victory over Britain in the Revolutionary War. However, this resolution was not widely observed, and the tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving did not become a national custom until Lincoln’s proclamation.
In conclusion, while Abraham Lincoln did not invent the tradition of Thanksgiving, he played a crucial role in making it a national holiday. His proclamation in 1863 helped to unite the nation during a time of crisis and established Thanksgiving as a cherished tradition that continues to be celebrated today.
