Everyone knows the basics of the story of Thanksgiving. But the fuller truth is much more fascinating. For example, did you know that FDR moved the day of Thanksgiving?
Harvest feasts themselves go back centuries. The earliest “thanksgiving” celebrations in the New World date back to the 16th Century with the French and Spanish. The Commonwealth of Virginia had similar celebrations in 1607. In 1610 the first permanent settlement—Jamestown, Virginia had a thanksgiving celebration. Celebration of Thanksgiving preceded our nation’s founding and it is the United States oldest national holiday.
Observance of Thanksgiving has not always been present in United States, though. It was declared officially by George Washington and later ignored by Thomas Jefferson. It saw irregular observation until Abraham Lincoln, who instituted a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving in the United States.
Read our deep dive into the lesser-know history of this iconic American holiday Thanksgiving: The Forgotten History of America's Thanksgiving and What It Commemorates at Ammo.com.