Hey Friend,

Happy Thanksgiving! 

All across America as people get started on this National Day of Thanks, there’ll be turkeys getting stuffed, pies getting baked and football games getting watched.

We don’t watch football in this house (I know, sacrilege!), but my daughter wants to have a “Lord of The Rings” binge day, so it’s all good (yeah, we’re nerds).

Did you know that we have Abraham Lincoln to thank for setting a national Thanksgiving Day in 1863?

And that professional football wasn’t even a thing until almost 30 years later? 

Prior to "Honest Abe" declaring the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day, the holiday was celebrated regionally  and would fall on whatever day was set in that area.

But thanks to Sarah Josepha Hale (a writer and editor) and her 36 year campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday, Lincoln finally wrote the proclamation to make it so. Mary started calling for the holiday in 1827 - persistent woman, that Mary!

We’ve all heard about the first Thanksgiving dinner shared between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians in 1621. 

However, I doubt most of us today think about how long this tradition has been happening, considering it took nearly 250 years for it to a become nationally recognized day of thanks.

The History Channel has a fascinating section on their website dedicated to Thanksgiving, where you can learn more about the legends and traditions. 

As you’re enjoying the day with friends and family, watching your football (or whatever else), remember to take a second and be thankful for the good in your life.

Today’s a great day for that!

Peace and prosperity~

Dave