Thanksgiving: The American Holiday

With essays, original materials, and even recipes, this volume devoted to the history and cultural importance of Thanksgiving in the United States traces the customs, symbols, and foods of the holiday, from the earliest celebrations of European colonists to present-day events. Historical essays cover traditions derived from the native cultures of early Americans and the first American Thanksgiving observances. The book examines the evolution of the traditional harvest celebration into the designated Day of Thanksgiving by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 and details the standardization of the traditional meal and the development of modern holiday traditions, including football games and parades.