Timely Topics: Thanksgiving Day

This Thursday, millions of American families will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving. The first harvest feast lasted several days, and was probably held in October of 1621. The neighboring Wampanoag tribe joined the festivities and contributed food. Learn more about the attendees of the first Thanksgiving with these Topic Pages: 

Thanksgiving Day
Wampanoag Indians
Pilgrims

In July of 1623 the colonists held their first official day of thanksgiving, although it centered around prayer rather than feasting. Over the next 300 years, the holiday would be celebrated in different ways at different times of the year. In 1941, Congress codified into law that the fourth Thursday of November would mark the official holiday. 

Popular foods cooked on this day include: 

Turkeys
Cranberries
Sweet Potatoes
Pumpkin

Subscribers to Credo’s Core Collections can also share these Real-time Reference articles from The Conversation:

• No, turkey doesn't make you sleepy – but it may bring more trust to your Thanksgiving table
• How Native American food is tied to important sacred stories