Thanksgiving is one of the most traditional holidays in the United States, but it can be a field of landmines when you have family members who get together with different beliefs and views. If you need some neutral topics beyond sports or shopping during the meal, here are some little-known facts about Thanksgiving that can get you started.
Food Heritage
Most people are aware that the turkeys of today are nothing like those that were served at the first New England celebration. In fact, it’s more likely that the settlers ate venison or seafood. Only male turkeys gobble, hence the name “gobbler.” It’s thought that the word turkey is from the Hebrew word “tukki,” which means large bird.
Cranberries were used for dyeing clothes and treating wounds. The cranberry wasn’t commercially harvested until the early 1800s, but mariners used the berry to prevent scurvy on long voyages for years before they were cultivated for food production. One common use of cranberries was to mix them with dried meat for pemmican.
Sweet potatoes and potatoes were not readily available in the 1600s. In fact, the settlers probably didn’t have many desserts because the sugar supply was limited by the time the Pilgrims had their first celebration. The first settlers didn’t use forks to stab their food. The only utensils would have been spoons and knives.
Travel and Traditions
Thanksgiving may be the busiest travel day, but the average travel distance is only 214 miles compared to 275 for Christmas or New Year’s Day. The Pilgrims’ first feast lasted three days in 1621, but there are records of Thanksgiving being celebrated in 1578 in Canada and as early as 1541 in the Texas panhandle. The Hawaiians celebrated their version of Thanksgiving long before the Pilgrims. Their feasts lasted four months, during which time no work or war was allowed.
President Jefferson thought that Thanksgiving was a ridiculous idea. It was President Lincoln who declared the celebration a national holiday at the behest of Sara Hale. Many Southerners believed Thanksgiving was a New England tradition, so they were reluctant to celebrate. President Roosevelt moved the date of the celebration to encourage more holiday shopping. Democrats and Republicans temporarily celebrated on different days.
Thanksgiving football is thought to have started with a game between Yale and Princeton in 1876, but it wasn’t until 1934 that the Detroit Lions began playing on Thanksgiving. Since that time, the Lions have played every year on Thanksgiving day except during World War II. The oldest Thanksgiving parade dates to 1920 in Philadelphia, compliments of Gimbels. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 and holds the title for the second oldest.
Navigating the Religious Aspect
Thanksgiving was a harvest celebration that originally held no religious ties. It was a time of giving thanks for the bounty of the earth. If you’re headed to a family dinner with those who celebrate faith in a different manner, it can be difficult. One of the best things to do is to be respectful of their beliefs. Remember, a prayer only lasts a few minutes normally. You don’t need to bow your head, just sit quietly.
If you aren’t prepared to discuss your religion at the dinner table, change the subject. Even if you want to discuss your beliefs, Thanksgiving dinner may not be the best time to do so. Making an announcement at the dinner table could be a bomb, depending on your family. If you have an ally, talk to that person and ask him or her to help you change the subject if something comes up. Request help in finding ways to celebrate without relating to one faith. Instead of praying, ask that everyone talk about people whom they are thankful for. If you don’t think you’ll be accepted at the family table, find somewhere you can be yourself. It’s okay to take care of your own emotional health on this day of thanks.