Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving!  This national holiday is celebrated all around the United States every year on the fourth Thursday in November. Here are some things you may not know about this delicious holiday:

1. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native American tribe to celebrate the colony’s first successful harvest. The celebration was multiple days long.
2. The first Thanksgiving may not have included turkey. Instead, waterfowl, venison, ham, lobster, clams, and a variety of fruits and vegetables were served.
3. Turkeys can only be found in North America – they are a uniquely American bird. It is speculated that this is why turkey is the traditional Thanksgiving meal. They are also large enough to feed a whole family.
4. It wasn’t until 1863 that Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving an official national holiday.
5. President Lincoln’s 1863 clemency to a turkey was the origin for the pardoning ceremony that takes place every year. While the tradition began many years prior, George H. W. Bush was the first president to grant an official Presidential pardon to the turkey.

From all of us at Quaker Valley, we hope you have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!