Question

James W. Baker, the Senior Historian at Plimoth Plantation, says that Thanksgiving is an invented tradition. What evidence from the text supports the idea that today’s Thanksgiving is an invented tradition? Answer

Answer 1

In late 1863, Pres. Lincoln labeled that last Thursday in November as a national day of thanksgiving. Nonetheless, in 1939, after a request from the National Retail Dry Goods Association, Pres. Franklin Roosevelt imposed that the holiday should consistently be celebrated on the 4th Thursday of the month in order to extend the holiday shopping period by a week.

Answer 2

Answer:

It is

Explanation:

The reason that we have so many myths associated with Thanksgiving is that it is an invented tradition. It doesn’t originate in any one event. It is based on the New England puritan Thanksgiving, which is a religious Thanksgiving, and the traditional harvest celebrations of England and New England and maybe other ideas like commemorating the pilgrims. All of these have been gathered together and transformed into something different from the original parts.”–James W. Baker, Senior Historian at Plimoth Plantation