Jessica Crabtree

#3: History of a Holiday

Notwithstanding its checkered past, Thanksgiving’s traditional emphasis on gratitude and togetherness has given it special appeal during nation-shaping periods that called for great solidarity. It was first observed as a holiday in New York in the 1700s, around the time of the American Revolution, when the disparate colonies were thrown together in the face of war.

Thanksgiving again rose in prominence after the Civil War, when the bitterly divided country – and its grieving homes – were encouraged to seek solace in the “common ideals” of America’s roots. At that time, an executive order by President Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national observance for the first time. It was later moved to its present date during the Depression in order to extend the commercial holiday season.

Below: Norman Rockwell’s iconic painting, “Freedom from Want.”