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 narrow 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 day feast in 1621. The
real reason for the consumption of turkey on thanksgiving 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, 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 american 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,
pumpkin, etc. A classic dinner for 10 people averages around $50 in addition to the cost of extra
guests, silverware, etc. Thanksgiving, second only to Christmans, 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 Editors. (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 thanksgiving people typically have a higher
intake of carbohydrates, which intercepts the absortbtion 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 pieces 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 the 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 indians, 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
to 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.