THIS DAY IN THANKSGIVING HISTORY USA...........

For most of the years since the first harvest meal shared by the Pilgrims and Indians,  nearly four centuries ago, Americans have usually celebrated a ThanksGiving Day holiday.  But until President Abraham Lincoln issued a Proclamation, setting the date for the last Thursday of November, in 1863, the date was celebrated on different days of November annually, as proclaimed by American Presidents.  The last Thursday of November became the normal until 1939.  In November 1933, many American businessmen had requested President Franklin Roosevelt proclaim the ThanksGiving holiday one week earlier, to extend the Christmas shopping season.  President Eoosevelt declined to do so.  But six  years later in The President concurred and proclaimed Thursday November 23, 1939, ThanksGiving Day.  And from Wrm Springs, Georgia, where he had a polio rehabilitation center he presided over the carving of the ThanksGiving turkey.  However, several State Governors ignored the presidential proclamation and designated Thursday November 30, the last Thursday of the month as ThanksGiving Day.  Bigger businesses and merchants were happy, but small business owners and families were very upset.  States such as New York and Conneticut, observed ThanksGiving on separate dates that year, so that families were unable to share the holiday together.  President Roosevelt proclaimed the fourth Thurdays of Nobember ThanksGiving Day in  1940 and 1941; and Congress passed legislation on December 26, 1941, designating The 4th Thursday of November, our official, annual, ThanksGiving Day.  Fr. Pius and I were invited this afternoon to a ThanksGiving Eve luncheon with the Pennington Family which was a delightful preview of tomorrow's feast.  May you anf your yours have a family gathering that is truly befitting of our hearts to be people of praise and thanks to God...........Fr.  Troy