By Web site Editor Admin

Most people know that Thanksgiving in America is now celebrated on the forth Thursday of November. Yet back in 1621, it was not always that way. According to DidYouKnow.org, Thanksgiving was once an occasion that occured at any random time of the year. The holiday was declared official by the government each year.

According to didyouknow.org, in 1815, there was not just one, but two Thanksgivings declared by James Madison. Ironically neither one was in November, or even in autumn. It was not until President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill in 1863 that Thanksgiving became the national public holiday that it is today.

Year after year, most families across the country celebrate with a tremendous Thanksgiving feast. Plates of mashed potatoes, stuffing, and of course, massive amounts of turkey are served traditionally today, but with no underlying purpose. Apparently there was no real reason that turkey was picked over chicken, didyouknow.org stated.

In 1621, turkey just happened to be the most plentiful food source and may not have been the only main course of the dinner. The History Channel’s Web site gave some insight on what could have been served during the first Thanksgiving. Venison, lobster, swan and seal are other possibilities for the first Thanksgiving.

Potatoes and cranberry sauce were not always a Thanksgiving tradition. Potatoes were not that popular and there was no sugar for the cranberries that the pilgrims had. Instead, these individuals enjoyed plums, grapes and even walnuts with their feast.