A time of Thanksgiving

In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition is commonly, but not universally, traced to a poorly documented 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts.  Throughout our country’s history, Thanksgiving was observed on various dates, varying from one state to another.
 
Then in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving to be observed on the final Thursday in November. As this was during the Civil War, he was trying to foster a sense of American unity between the Northern and Southern states. The Confederate states, however refused to recognize Lincoln's authority, so a nationwide Thanksgiving date wasn’t observed until the 1870s.
 
Then in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a joint resolution of Congress changing the national Thanksgiving Day from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday.
 
As you prepare for Thanksgiving this year, here are tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Protection 1 to help keep your preparations and festivities safe, whether you’re cooking at home or traveling.