🦃 🇺🇸 On the true origins of Thanksgiving in the USA

Alexander B. Howard

28 Nov 2024 — 1 min read

Good morning from rainy Washington, where I am drinking eggnog coffee and getting ready to travel.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating in the United States.

I wanted to share a reflection about the origins of this national day that depart from the mythic harvest dinner of centuries past.

Our National Day of Thanksgiving originated during the Civil War, when the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, called on all Americans to give thanks for our defense of the union against a cruel rebellion.

His proclamation follows:

For more on the history of Thanksgiving in the United States, read Heather Cox Richardson and reflect on “Uncle Sam’s Thanksgiving Dinner” from 1869.

I have cooking for a dinner to do, on the other side of a drive: another non-dairy, gluten-free pumpkin pie 🥧 for family who can’t tolerate either. (The secret ingredient is love.)

May you and yours find comfort, joy, peace, family, and good food on this day.

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