Old Thanksgiving Traditions

Old Thanksgiving Traditions

As we prepare for Thanksgiving we thought we’d discuss old Thanksgiving traditions that have gone out over the years. Does your family still keep any of these old traditions alive today? We are so happy to have you reading today’s article, and if you are in need of new windows, siding or doors please visit our website for your free quote. 

 

1. At the turn of the 20th century people used to send Thanksgiving greeting cards with giant illustrations of turkeys, pilgrims and pumpkins. We typically see cards sent on Christmas but this tradition has all but vanished. I don’t know about you but I’ve never received a Thanksgiving card before! 
2. We are all used to seeing place cards at weddings, but it used to be that everyone had assigned seating at the Turkey Table too. But as you might have already guessed, they have become far less common, as families continue to move away from some of the more formal Thanksgiving traditions, opting instead for a more casual, organically formed affair.
3.  Before digging into the turkey and stuffing, families once made it an annual tradition to retell the story of the first Thanksgiving. While grade schools covered the basics, a yearly family brush-up on Thanksgiving Day informed us of details like turkey’s absence from the menu; instead, our forebears dined on venison, duck, and oysters.
4. It used to be that people wanted to work up their appetite before the big feast. They did this by tossing around the pigskin and playing football. a pre-dinner family football game kept kids busy and political discussions at bay.
5. People used to pull apart the wishbone of the turkey on Thanksgiving day. In many households in the 20th century, the breaking of the wishbone was a hallowed tradition. It also promoted patience and being together with family longer because only a dry wishbone would break! 
6. Southerners often use a cornbread stuffing that originated from a dish called kush, cooked by slaves brought from North and West Africa. Holiday stuffing used to contain more rice which was an ode to Native American wild rice. 
7. In the 19th century Thanksgiving wasn’t widely accepted at first, but for those who chose to celebrate it, it was usually a small family affair right on the farm.
8. Black Friday wasn’t always a tradition in the united states. The earliest evidence of the phrase Black Friday originated in Philadelphia, dating back to 1961, where it was used by police to describe the heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic that would occur on the day after Thanksgiving.
9. For the people of 1916, the Macy’s parade didn’t actually exist yet; the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1924. Though we treasure this tradition in the US it’s not always been there and we should be thankful we have it now!
10. In the old days people would eat whatever was on their farm for thanksgiving. 

 

Final Thoughts

Thank you so much for reading today’s article on old Thanksgiving Traditions. We hope you have enjoyed reading about these traditions, and please let us know if you still do any of the traditions above. As always we appreciate your reading the article. We hope you enjoy all of the traditions you share with your family this holiday season. Get your free quote for windows, siding or doors by clicking here.