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Black Friday‘s Origins As A Police Tactic And Other Odd Thanksgiving History
One of the most popular American holidays has an intriguing history
Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. Traditionally a time to eat unconscionable amounts of food, gather with family and friends and lounge in and out of food comas, it’s little wonder it is regarded so fondly. It comes with a laundry list of traditions and has a rich and sometimes odd history, including these items.
Traditional Football Didn’t Start With the NFL: Aside from the food, football is one of the most enduring Thanksgiving traditions. Multiple games are played on the holiday each year, giving people at home something to watch as they groggily recover from feasting. The games first started in 1876 when Yale and Princeton squared off on Turkey Day, resulting in a barn burner of a 2–0 Yale victory. The practice transitioned to the NFL in 1920 and has continued ever since. The Detroit Lions have hosted a game on the holiday every year since 1934, and the Dallas Cowboys have done the same since 1966.
The First Thanksgiving May Have Happened in Florida: One of the first historical facts many American children are taught in school is that Thanksgiving occurred in 1621 (although Thanksgiving didn’t become an official…
