10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Thanksgiving

The FW.com ^ | Nov 23,2011 | Danny Gallagher

[Daffynition]

This Thanksgiving, millions of Americans will sit down at the table and gawk over all the goodies they are planning to cram in their gullet. The holiday might seem as familiar as singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the “Seventh Inning Stretch” or packing a finger in ice that was blown off by a firework on the Fourth of July. However, like all traditions based on history and passed down through the ages, its genesis and story has been morphed and changed to fit the times.

In fact, just about every major, hallowed tradition and belief behind “Turkey Day” has either changed completely or developed new traditions and facets in the wake of modern life. Don't worry, none of them are gross or disgusting enough to put you off roasted turkey. We're looking forward to stuffing our face with tasty starches and protein too. To get you ready for the big day (and provide some conversation fodder to break up the awkward silences between courses) here are a few things you might not know about Thanksgiving.

[Daffynition]

Thanksgiving wasn't always celebrated with massive eating binges

 

 

When we think about Thanksgiving, the first thing that comes to mind is the massive amounts of good food we're going to consume. Sure there's the whole being with family and catching up with our relatives thing, but that's also why we have a couple of drinks and a giant turkey wing. There was a time when the holiday wasn't synonymous with massive amounts of food, or any food for that matter. Up until the 17th century, Thanksgiving had deeper religious roots and was meant to be more of a time of personal reflection and meditation and that included–gasp!–fasting. Chew over that one (and try not to choke on a wishbone).

 

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[knarf]

You sutre know how to screw up a tradition.

/8^)

Happy Thanksgiving

[SamAdams76]

Thanksgiving - like Christmas - are holidays that have greatly evolved over the years and have been commercialized to a great extent - not that there's anything wrong with that.

Even though we lay out a huge amount of food on Thanksgiving dinner, I usually eat comparatively little myself. I actually prefer the cold turkey sandwiches the next day (Friday) when I spend the day doing yard work and hanging Christmas lights.

Is it just me or does there seem to be a lot more football on Thanksgiving these days? There are now three NFL games scheduled for today and more college and high school games than I can throw a stick at - not that there's anything wrong with that. Football is the only sport I really like to watch on the TV but it does seem to annoy the wives so we usually keep the games on mute and play music on the stereo. A tradition in our house is to play Monteverdi's "Vespers of 1610" during the actual Thanksgiving dinner. That music goes very well with Thanksgiving dinner, especially when candles are lit and the lights are turned off.

[martin_fierro]

The Select Dickinson.

*cough*

[woofer]

Libby's pumpkin pie filling is not of real pumpkin? O Noes!!!

And Coolwhip isn't made from real cream? Egad!!!

I'll tell you. Makes me feel like just celebrating "Just Another Thursday. With pressed turkey flavored loaf and synthetic gravy.

[Alberta's Child]

As one who has lived in both the U.S. and Canada, I’ve always enjoyed the U.S. Thanksgiving immensely but I think the Canadian Thanksgiving is held at a more appropriate time of year (the second Monday in October — which is Columbus Day in the U.S.). The agrarian traditions of Thanksgiving would seem to indicate that it should be held shortly after the fall harvest, not two months later. But I never could get used to a Thanksgiving holiday on a Monday. LOL.

[hockea]

The actual declaration of Thanksgiving Holiday is attributed to President John A. Hanson almost 100 years prior to Lincoln.

http://www.marshallhall.org/hanson.html

[RegulatorCountry]

Well, she does have that look in her eyes, bless her heart.

[Tanniker Smith]

These days he’d be called “Interim Acting”.

[Western Phil]

Before the days of mechanization, the corn harvest ran well into winter. It was not likely to be completed by the end of November. It was common to delay shucking corn until the ground was frozen so that the wagon wheels would not sink in the mud and make it difficult or impossible for the horses to pull it across the wet fields. In fact, two years ago, the corn (and to some extent, the soybean) harvest was quite late due to very late maturing and a wet fall. Locally here in east central Illinois some corn was harvested in May.

[Alberta's Child]

Good point, but I'm thinking of the New England origins of Thanksgiving. I have a hard time believing it would have been commonplace for folks in Massachusetts, for example, to be harvesting any of their native crops this late in the year.

The date of Thanksgiving wasn't fixed as a Federal holiday until the FDR administration, so I'm sure there was a lot of variation in the actual dates of the holiday before that.

[Daffynition]

I do what I can ....I think I overcooked the bird! Happy *T* to you and yours knarf!!

[Daffynition]

Quitcher clownin' RC! Happy Thanksgiving all around!!!

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

Save me some stuffin'! :D

[Daffynition]

Hope your team wins!

[knarf]

Elongat5ed butternuts

[RegulatorCountry]

I’m surprised there wasn’t a Sea-Doo doing donuts out in the bay.

Wonder who won the game?