Baker, J.W. (2010). Thanksgiving The Biography of an American Holiday.

Hanover: University of
New Hampshire Press.

In this novel, James Baker uses his research to dispute myths and misconceptions surrounding
the origins of Thanksgiving and how the celebration came into being, such as the belief that
Thanksgiving is based around the pilgrims and the feast they shared with the Native Americans
in 1621. He discusses the different cultural and religious aspects of the holiday put into practice
by ancient civilizations like the Mayans and Native Americans. It also analyzes the traditions and
values associated with Thanksgiving today, including strong family values, turkey dinners, family
recipes, etc. It walks through the different stages of the holiday as it transitioned into what we
know it as today. The audience for this book is much more limited than that of the other articles
because it provides a more narrower and focused perspective on the origins of the Thanksgiving
holiday and provides a much more in depth analysis of the traditions that were associated with it
before and how they connect to the traditions that Americans practice now.

CBS News. (2016, November 23). Why do we eat turkey at Thanksgiving? Retrieved from
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-do-we-eat-turkey-at-thanksgiving/

Contrary to popular belief, turkey was most likely not consumed at the 3 three day feast in 1621.
The real reason for the consumption of turkey consumption on tThanksgiving actually has
nothing to do with the feast at all, which would have most likely contained more venison than
poultry. It was also unlikely that the pilgrims would have has access to potatoes, cranberries, or
pies as they were not grown in the area at the time and had not yet been introduced in America.
In the early 20th century, foods such as turkey, cornbread, and stuffing , etc, were introduced to
immigrants in the New World as a way of “Americanizing them.” Foods such as potatoes and
cranberries were brought from other countries and were slowly incorporated into American
culture. This news story was published for the general American population as a way of
disproving popular beliefs regarding the traditions of thanksgiving. While some of the foods we
enjoy on Thanksgiving today may have been present at the first feast, it is important for
Americans to understand the true origins of the traditions that they practice and the real
meaning behind them. This allows the readers to develop a deeper understanding and
appreciation for the traditions embedded in their culture and where those traditions originated.

Chan, M. (2016, November 22). Thanksgiving Day: What Happened at the First Thanksgiving.
Retrieved from https://time.com/4577425/thanksgiving-2016-true-story/

At the “first Thanksgiving” about 100 native Aamerican and Englishmen attended the feast. They
dined and played games together for three days during the festivities. Following the colonists’
first crop harvest, they held a large feast in which the Wampanoag, who had helped them in
their journey through the New World, were able to attend. In contrast with today’s interpretation
of Thanksgiving dinner, the main course was venison, accompanied by various dishes of fowl
and fish. The event was not called Thanksgiving and would not be repeated until several years
later. Shortly following the event the arrival of more Englishmen wiped out a large percentage of
the Native American population and war erupted. The short lived peace between the two was
broken and another celebration would not take place until the emergence of Thanksgiving as we
know it today, which would hold an entirely different meaning. Today there are very different
interpretations between the celebration of the english and the somber remembrance of the
native americans. This article gives a different perspective of the origins of Thanksgiving from
the perspective of the Native Americans. While most Americans see Thanksgiving as a day of
food and celebration, Native Americans use it as a way to remember their ancestors and their
culture following the colonization of America.

Clifford, C. (2018, November 27). Thanksgiving by the numbers: 45 million turkeys, 3,000
calories, 54 million travelers. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/21/how-mu
ch-turke y-people-eat-on-thanksgiving-plus-other-fun-facts.html

In addition to the traditions of Thanksgiving there’s a lot of time and preparation that goes into
creating a Thanksgiving meal. Every year in America, approximately 45 million turkeys are sold
for Thanksgiving alone, in addition to large amounts of stuffing, green beans, rolls, potatoes,
and pumpkins, etc. A classic dinner for 10 people averages around $50 in addition to the cost of
extra guests, silverware, etc. Thanksgiving, Ssecond only to Christmans, Thanksgiving is one of
the biggest economically affecting holidays in America. In addition to the cost of meals
approximately 48.5 million people travel to other destinations during the holiday to go on
vacation, see family, etc. This news article puts into perspective the economic advantages of
instituting Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Taking into account all the preparation involved
also helps to gain a better appreciation for the work and effort that goes into providing a holiday
such as Thanksgiving. Once again, the intended audience would most likely be anyone with an
affiliation with the holiday or those affected by the increases in economic stimulation and high
travel rates. This article puts into perspective just how much food, time, and money it takes to
provide Thanksgiving for an entire country.

History.com eEditors. (2009, October 27). Thanksgiving 2019. Retrieved from https://www.histor
y.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving

This online article gives insight into the similar celebrations to Thanksgiving in other cultures. In
ancient civilizations the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians honored their gods with a fall harvest.
Jewish traditions also have a similar celebration called Sukkot. And in addition to the
celebrations of other cultures, the native americans had records of holding feasts and
celebrations similar to that of Thanksgiving long before the colonists arrived in the new world.
The concept of Thanksgiving has been around for centuries, the differences are found in the
way that different cultures celebrate this holiday. For example, in America most people have
venture away from the religious aspects of Thanksgiving and use it as a way to celebrate with
food, friends, and family. Rather than analyzing the aspects of the first Thanksgiving, this article
compares celebrations of other cultures and relates them to the festivities and traditions of the
modern American interpretation of the holiday. The audience for this article would most likely be
people who are unfamiliar with the traditions involved in the American interpretation of
Thanksgiving. The article would also be informative for individuals who want to learn about the
origins of the American Thanksgiving traditions that have been associated with the holiday, such
as football and parades.

Lewis, T. (2013, November 27). Thanksgiving myth busted: Eating turkey won’t make you
sleepy. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/sciencemain/thanksgiving-my th-
busted-eating-turkey-wont-make-you-sleepy-2D11663222

It has been proven that turkey does contain the amino acid tryptophan, which is associated with
feelings of fatigue and sleepiness. However, turkey does not contain any higher concentration of
tryptophan than any other type of food. In fact, cheddar cheese has been proven to have a
higher concentration than turkey. However, on Tthanksgiving people typically have a higher
intake of carbohydrates, which intercepts the absortbtionabsorption of all amino acids except
tryptophan. The increased absorbtion of tryptophan leads to a higher production of melatonin in
the brain, which makes people feel tired. Another possible explanation is the increased amount
of alcohol consumption throughout the holiday, which can also lead to an increased absorbtion
of tryptophan into the brain. Aside from the scientific appeal, this article is intended to dispute
the theories that post-Thanksgiving dinner fatigue is caused solely by a large consumption of
turkey. It provides insight into what goes on in your body and your brain after the traditions of the
holiday have taken place. While it does not discuss the history or context of the tradition of
eating turkey on thanksgiving it explains what happens when you eat turkey and how to
recognize the effects of it on your body.

Sethi, S. (2018, November 16). The dishes on your Thanksgiving table have deep, indigenous
roots beyond the first feast. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/
wp/2018/11/16/feature/the-dishes-on-your-thanksgiving-table-have-deep-indigenous-root
s-beyond-the-first-feast?

During the time before the first feast, fowl were used in ceremonial rituals for instances of
spiritual sacrifice as suggested by the remnants of bone artifacts in ancient temples and
religious sites. The bones were used for tools and tubing, while the feathers were sewn into
ceremonial capes. The rest of the bird was used as a food source. Therefore, the first
thanksgiving may have included poultry, but it may not have been turkey. It could very likely
have been goose or duck. However, this would not have been the main course of the meal, as it
was much more likely during that time period that venison was served in place of turkey. As in
most of the other articles this piece’s main purpose is to inform Americans of the indigenous and
spiritual traditions tied to the traditions that they practice. This helps add context to the concept
of incorporating certain dishes into our celebrations and understanding why they are significant
to the understanding of the holiday as a whole. It allows readers to become more informed
about the roots of the holidays and traditions in their lives. While the target audience would
primarily be individuals who celebrate Thanksgiving, in can also be used to give religious
context for groups, such as the Mayans, who used these rituals prior to their incorporation into
the traditions surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday we are familiar with today.

Strauss, V. (2016, November 24). Why we celebrate Thanksgiving every year. It isn’t what you
think. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/11 /
26/why- we-celebrate-thanksgiving-every-year-it-isnt-what-you-think/

According to common belief, Thanksgiving is celebrated in honor of the first feast shared by the
colonists of America and the Wampanog Iindians, using the famous Squanto as a translator
between the two groups. However, this event had very little responsibility in the establishment of
the holiday. To begin with, the main course of the meal would’ve been venison, not turkey. This
tradition was established many years later. Also, foods like pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, and
cranberries would not yet have been introduced in the New World. Thanksgiving was not
considered a holiday until 1789 when George Washington established a day of public
thansgiving and prayer, but this event was only to take place for that year. In the late 1800’s an
influential writer named Sarah Hale petitioned for President Lincoln to establish thanksgiving as
a national holiday, which became the holiday we know it as today. The main purpose of this
article is to correct misunderstandings about the origin of the holiday and the reason for the
traditions associated with it.

Wallendorf, M., Arnould, E.J. (1991). “We Gather Together”: Consumption Rituals of
Thanksgiving Day. Journal of Consumer Research, 18 (1), 13-29. doi: 10.10861209237

This academic journal analyzes the reason behind the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Despite common belief relating to the three day feast in 1621, the real reason for this
celebration has almost nothing to do with the pilgrims in America. Thanksgiving did not become
a widely celebrated holiday until the early 20th century. It is celebrated by Americans as a way
toto celebrate the abundance of certain materials, such as food, family, and wealth. America is
considered to have a culture of widespread prosperity and abundance and Thanksgiving is
meant to be a way for participants to prove their ability to provide for the basic needs of them
and their families through the process of food consumption. This journal is a formal, scholarly
article intended to be a source of information for Americans interested in learning more about
their culture and developing a deeper understanding of the significance of the holidays that they
celebrate. It provides basic information regarding the “Why?” behind the celebration of
Thanksgiving day. It holds important information that disproves popular beliefs regarding the
holiday and should be read by all those who celebrate so that they can form an accurate
interpretation of the meaning of the holiday.

Waxman, O.B. (2018, November 20). When Is Thanksgiving? Why Holiday Is Always on a
Thursday. Retrieved from https://time.com/5455162/thanksgiving-on-thursday/

In the earliest Thanksgiving celebrations in America, the celebrations were very sporadic. They
occurred for very specific events as a way of giving thanks for a specific blessing, such as in
response to the end of a drought or a victory in a war or battle. However during the Civil War an
influential author named Sarah Hale, in an attempt to popularize her published recipes such as
turkey, stuffing, pies, etc, requested that President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in
November to be a day of blessing and giving thanks, which he eventually did. In an attempt to
lengthen the Christmas shopping season to boost the economy, President Roosevelt attempted
to move Thanksgiving forward to the 3rd Thursday of November, but received severe backlash
and reinstated the original holiday. Similarly to the other articles, the target audience for this
magazine article would be those individuals that celebrate Thanksgiving. It is important to know
the reason behind the traditions associated with a holiday in order to understand the context
and the significance of it. In addition, the information in this article provides historical and
economic context to the reason behind the institutional decisions made in regards to the
implementation of Thanksgiving.

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