Thinking about Thanksgiving Traditions
Did you know Thanksgiving did not become a national holiday in the United States until 1863? President Lincoln is responsible for inaugurating a tradition that we all hold dear today, originally designed as a kind of thank you for the Civil War victories in Vicksburg and Gettysburg.
Prior to this date, Thanksgiving was celebrated on a state by state basis, with each state scheduling its own holiday in the Fall or Winter months. Early Thanksgiving revolved around attending church services and eating and napping as long as possible, and in that sense, not much has changed. There is something about a single day in which we can take a minute to be together, relax, and be thankful for everything in our life (including that extra slice of of pumpkin pie).