Office Closure for Thanksgiving

“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.” — Erma Bombeck

A brief history of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving history is shrouded in mystery and myths. What is reliably known is that the first “official” Thanksgiving in the US took place in 1621. It was celebrated by Pilgrim settlers from England, who established Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts in 1620.

Despite the poor food supplies and various diseases, they had survived through a severe winter. The following spring, Wampanoag Native Americans helped the colonists plant corn. When the first crop was gathered in the autumn, governor William Bradford proclaimed a huge feast and invited them to celebrate together.

American Thanksgiving was established as a national holiday in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. There is a story that this decision was taken because of Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer, and editor who had written to President Lincoln for 17 years, asking to proclaim this day as a holiday.

Traditionally, this is the day for families and friends to gather together around a holiday table for a special meal. Many families have a holiday tradition of praying together and sharing what they’re grateful for around the table.