The Truth about Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving is an American holiday that is celebrated every year. It’s usually the fourth Thursday in November. Thanksgiving is undoubtedly a popular holiday celebrated by almost everyone, particularly Christians. The date for each Thanksgiving holiday is different, depending on the date of the fourth Thursday.
As someone who has celebrated Thanksgiving over and again, can you beat your hand on your chest and say you know the origin of this holiday? Can you confidently say you know how it all began? If your response is negative, then this is your lucky day as this article will explain and narrate how and where Thanksgiving started from.
Where it All Began
The earliest reference to the origin of Thanksgiving is in September 1623, when pilgrims from Plymouth, England moved to America. After travelling on sea amid a great storm, they eventually made it to dry land in Massachusetts. Upon their arrival, they called the place New England.
The pilgrims arrived without any prior knowledge of what they were up against. Due to this lack of preparation, over 50% of them died from the unfavourable climate conditions. The geographical terrain also contributed to the death of those who passed on. The ugly development took place before December.
The surviving pilgrims had no option but to persevere and continue with their quest for a better life in New England. The remaining pilgrims knew that going back to England was not an option, so they asked God for strength. The Native Americans understood their plight and tried to lend a helping hand in any way they could. With the assistance they got, the English pilgrims were able to gather a bountiful harvest before the summer hit.
They undertook the planting of pumpkins and corn in large numbers. Fortunately, their effort yielded great harvests, thanks to the compatible American climate. This was what necessitated the very first Thanksgiving. The first pilgrims who survived the migration from England to America in September 1623 thought it wise to celebrate the first Thanksgiving with their Native American counterparts.
The celebration became so revered that the court at Plymouth fixed the date for Thanksgiving to be on November 25 every year. Unfortunately, that court ruling was only effective for 5 years.
The first time Thanksgiving was celebrated as a national holiday was supposedly in 1777 when the British army was defeated by the Americans in Saratoga. Subsequently, Thanksgiving became an event that was celebrated once in a while nationally.
In 1789, a proclamation was issued in the constitution by George Washington, which was duly followed by the first Thanksgiving Day. This day became even more pronounced when Abraham Lincoln gave a Thanksgiving proclamation speech as a way of honouring soldiers who were buried in Gettysburg. Abraham Lincoln gave the speech as a full-fledged Christian back in 1863.
Today, Thanksgiving Day has become a sacred holiday observed by Americans every year. Part of the reason for this celebration is to honour the pilgrims who started it in New England. Hence, to mark the experience of the pilgrims in New England, families prepare dinner that comprises pumpkin and turkey.
The Black Friday Connection
Black Friday has become a global thing. People around the world in most countries look forward to Black Friday because it is a time when things are sold at huge discounts. People who do not have enough money to buy a particular smartphone on a normal day may be able to buy such devices on Black Friday because they are sold much cheaper on that day.
But have you ever asked yourself – Where did Black Friday get its name from? Where did it begin? Is it something that has some kind of spiritual undertone as some claim? If you are just as curious, then stay put and read the rest of the post as we reveal the origin of Black Friday and how it relates to Thanksgiving Day.
The Origin of Black Friday
While Black Friday is usually the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, it will interest you to note that the term Black Friday was not in any way connected to shopping. According to a respected historian, the term Black Friday was first used to describe market anxiety in 1869 that resulted from Jim Fisk and Jay Gould driving up gold prices, which ultimately led to a market crash.
After that, Black Friday became a famous term for describing any negative event that took place after Thanksgiving.
The First Time Black Friday Was Used in Connection with Shopping
Black Friday became more popular and widely accepted when it was used in connection with shopping after Thanksgiving. The first time this term was used to describe a shopping event was during the 1950s.
The Philadelphia Police complained about too many people coming into the city after Thanksgiving Day to carry out various shopping activities. They decided to refer to that particular Friday as Black Friday because it was difficult for them to control the crowds that emerged.
After that incident, people naturally regarded the day after Thanksgiving as Black Friday and a day for unprecedented shopping. As you would expect, with every passing year, the name gained momentum, increasing in popularity and acceptance.
Reports have it that retailers were not initially happy with the term Black Friday because it made the day look like a bad day. Consequently, most retailers suggested that the name should be changed to Big Friday. That effort failed miserably.
The concept of Black Friday as a shopping holiday surged in its acceptance between 1970 and 1980. Retailers competed amongst themselves as they tried to outwit each other by expanding their deals.
Therefore, there is no one moment that one could say is responsible for the name Black Friday. All we know is that Black Friday has redefined the shopping experience for both customers and sellers.
