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History of Thanksgiving (3:15)

Although Thanksgiving celebrations dated back to the first European settlements in America, it was not until the 1860s that Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be a national holiday.

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Videos (9)

  • History of Thanksgiving
    History of Thanksgiving

    Video Clip (3:15)

    Although Thanksgiving celebrations dated back to the first European settlements in America, it was not until the 1860s that Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be a national holiday.

    Video Clip (3:15)
  • Thanksgiving Turkey
    Thanksgiving Turkey

    Video Clip (3:31)

    Deep frying turkeys is a southern trend that is now spreading across the United States.

    Video Clip (3:31)
  • Pumpkin Pie
    Pumpkin Pie

    Video Clip (3:18)

    The Little Pie company in New York City bakes over 5,000 pumpkin pies every Thanksgiving.

    Video Clip (3:18)
  • Thanksgiving Becomes a Holiday
    Thanksgiving Becomes a Holiday

    Video Clip (2:01)

    Early Puritans observed Thanksgiving days of prayer, but Sarah Josepha Hale's crusade for a national day of thanks is what ultimately gave us Thanksgiving.

    Video Clip (2:01)
  • Thanksgiving Day Parade
    Thanksgiving Day Parade

    Video Clip (2:35)

    The Thanksgiving Day Parade is a 48-hour whirlwind of activity.

    Video Clip (2:35)
  • Thanksgiving Day Parade Tech
    Thanksgiving Day Parade Tech

    Video Clip (3:15)

    At the Macy's Studio in Hoboken, NJ, technicians work year round to construct floats and balloons for the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    Video Clip (3:15)
  • History of the Thanksgiving Day Parade
    History of the Thanksgiving Day Parade

    Video Clip (2:51)

    The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been marching since 1924.

    Video Clip (2:51)
  • The Mayflower
    The Mayflower

    Video Clip (2:18)

    From the Pilgrims' reasons for leaving Europe to the treacherous journey across the Atlantic, musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis puts to song the story of the Mayflower.

    Video Clip (2:18)
  • Deconstructing History: Mayflower
    Deconstructing History: Mayflower

    Video Clip (2:35)

    How many people were on the Mayflower? And how long did it take for them to get to Plymouth? Get the facts.

    Video Clip (2:35)

Photo Galleries (1)

  • Massachusetts
    Massachusetts

    9 Photos

    History.com's state gallery for Massachusetts. Learn more about the state symbols and famous landmarks.

    (9 Photos)

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Traditional Thanksgiving foods didn’t all start with the Pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621.

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