Just like most days in 2020, Thanksgiving will look a bit different. Nonetheless, it’s always a good idea to practice gratitude and remember the things that we do have to be thankful for. According to an article published by Harvard Medical School, “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
Living in Tamarac means there are many things to be grateful for; here are just a few:
- We are still participating in the annual Turkey Trot
- We’ve got a great Farmer’s Market
- Our City Commission has banned the box
- Hurricane season is almost over
A Brief History of Thanksgiving
According to History.com, Thanksgiving was not a national holiday until 1863 when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday. Originally, Thanksgiving was celebrated on the last Thursday in November.
That changed, however, during the Great Depression. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday up one week to the fourth Thursday in November, under pressure from retailers who wanted the government to do something to spur additional retail sales. Many Americans disagreed with this, and began using the term “Franksgiving” as a dig at the President. In addition, this action caused a lot of confusion; according to the Library of Congress, in 1939, “23 of the 48 states observed Thanksgiving Day on November 23, 23 states celebrated on November 30, and Texas and Colorado declared both Thursdays to be holidays.”
In 1941, the new official Thanksgiving holiday was moved to the fourth Thursday in November.
Happy Thanksgiving!
