Connor: Blog Of The Day

  Thanksgiving is a holiday that has its roots in the seventeen hundreds.  It has been celebrated for many years as an unofficial holiday.  In the years before the Civil War it was celebrated as the unofficial holiday it once was.  Up until the midpoint of the war when it became an official holiday.

     President Abraham Lincoln or Honest Abe was president at the time.  He decided to make thanksgiving a national holiday for all Americans.  This happened in 1863 and we've been celebrating ever since.  The flaws with the holiday include the fact that it celebrates the conquest of Native American's land, as well as the feast.  Some native tribes don't celebrate the holiday and instead mourn their ancestors.  Some Native Americans, on the other hand, celebrate the feast then mourn for their ancestors who were killed in the Settlers conquest of the nation.  Some historians think we shouldn't celebrate thanksgiving, because of what happened afterward.

    At first no one really did anything big on thanksgiving day.  It was a day spent in prayer and a feast may have taken place after prayers or might not have.  During the civil war, however, it was a very important day for America.  Back at the home front it was probably still used to pray and give thanks, mainly to pray for the soldiers out on the battle field.  The soldiers celebrated by in their units by making toasts to family members and eating a special meal.