Although Thanksgiving is a tradition celebrated annually, you may not know the history of the holiday.
Thanksgiving’s origin incorporates extensive religious and cultural aspects that produced an event more meaningful than simply eating turkey and watching football.
The annual tradition is rooted in a combination of English traditions linked to the Protestant Reformation, according to Norman Caulfield, professor of history at Fort Hays State University.
While the notion of giving thanks for an abundant harvest was a common practice for various religions, services centered around Thanksgiving were given special focus under King Henry VIII.
Henry VIII was an English king at odds with the Catholic Church. Since he wanted to split away from Catholic influence as much as possible, he instituted special days of giving thanks to replace specific dates of Catholic celebrations.
These Protestant celebrations became known as Days of Fasting or Days of Thanksgiving. They became a common form of celebration for English Puritans.
This manner of celebration became very commonplace for Puritans, and when they came to America, the tradition came with them.
Puritans observed the first Thanksgiving in 1621 at Plymouth, Mass., in honor of a good harvest.
The first American Thanksgiving was poorly documented, so historical accounts make it difficult to determine the exact day it occurred.
Since that first celebration took place, the official day of Thanksgiving has been changed numerous times throughout American history.
“It used to depend on how the calendar fell,” Caulfield said.
At one point, George Washington dedicated a day for it on Nov. 26, 1789. Later, Abraham Lincoln designated a day in 1863.
Finally, Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the fourth Thursday of November the official day of celebration for Thanksgiving.
Caulfield said the version of Thanksgiving that children understand, as opposed to the reality of the history of Thanksgiving, depends on the parents.
“Thanksgiving becomes a day in which parents explain to kids the real meaning of Thanksgiving,” Caulfield said.
Children may be taught that Thanksgiving is merely a day of eating good food, but it is a tradition that extends beyond the dinner table.
While it is a holiday Americans treasure, it might be surprising to know that other countries celebrate their own Thanksgivings.
Countries such as Canada, Liberia, Germany and Japan observe their own Thanksgiving traditions. Each country incorporates unique details into its celebration, according to Caulfield.
In America, participant plans to acknowledge Thanksgiving in his or her own way. For some, this means having to commute across the state.
“I’m going home and visiting my parents in Salina,” said Tyler Weiser, Salina graduate student, “My brothers are coming home from Kansas City, too.”
Weiser’s Thanksgiving traditions are mainly concentrated on the company of others.
“I like to relax a little bit,” Weiser said, “Hang out with friends and family and do some homework.”
Others plan on traversing out of state to meet their loved ones this season.
“For Thanksgiving I am visiting my family in Oklahoma,” said Taylor Hunt, Bonner Springs junior.
Her familial Thanksgiving tradition deals with designated duties.
“One tradition that we have is the family elders cook the meal, and then all the young people clean up,” Hunt said.
Whatever the traditions or history may be, or wherever it may be celebrated, Thanksgiving continues to be a holiday cherished by its celebrants.