Michael Inglis gave many friends a talking parrot
Here are some little known facts about the American Thanksgiving tradition:
•The first "Thanksgiving" was held in 1621 at Plymouth Rock with Pilgrims and Native Americans and lasted 3 days - held in the British style of a feast.
•In 1676, June 29th was proclaimed a day of thanksgiving.
•One hundred years later in October 1777 the 13 Colonies joined in a Thanksgiving celebration but this was a one time event.
•In 1789, George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving but it was opposed later by President Thomas Jefferson.
•It was a magazine editor and author of "Mary had a little lamb", Sarah Josepha Hale who led a 40-year obsessive campaign that inspired President Abraham Lincoln to proclaim the last Thursday in November as a day of thanks.
•President Franklin Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving to the third Thursday to give more time between the holidays for shopping but the country was in an uproar and two years later the date was moved back to the last Thursday of November.
•In 1941, Thanksgiving was declared a legal holiday by Congress.
For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time to be with family and friends. It is a time to eat way too much food and be given amnesty for sitting on a couch for hours with our pants unbuttoned! But at the end of the day we are so grateful for our families, our friends, our good fortunes, our health, and our love.
We wish you and your family a prosperous harvest
and peaceful time spent with family and friends.
Happy Thanksgiving!