Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation: The Feast That United a Broken Nation
When one president asked America to pass the gravy—and forgive itself.
The Dinner That Came After the Battle
It’s hard to imagine a national holiday born in the middle of a civil war,
but that’s exactly what happened on November 28, 1863.
America was bleeding.
The Civil War had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, and the nation was split in two.
Yet President Abraham Lincoln, exhausted but resolute, decided that what the country needed wasn’t another speech—it was a shared meal.
And thus, Thanksgiving became official. 🍗🍌
Before Lincoln, There Were Just Leftovers
Thanksgiving wasn’t new—it had existed for centuries in scattered state celebrations.
The Pilgrims had their feast, George Washington gave thanks after the Revolution,
but there was no national rhythm, no calendar unity.
Enter Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book (and author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”).
For 17 years, she wrote letters to presidents begging for a national day of thanks.
Lincoln finally said yes.
In the middle of war, he saw gratitude as resistance—
a spiritual glue for a nation tearing at the seams.
The Banana Behind the Bird
Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation wasn’t about turkey—it was about therapy.
He wrote of “fruitful fields,” “enlarged borders,” and “the blessings of liberty.”
It was an invitation to pause the anger, breathe, and acknowledge grace amid grief.
He didn’t promise peace.
He promised perspective.
And somehow, that was enough.
Even soldiers at the front found ways to celebrate. Union camps roasted whatever they could find—pigeons, rabbits, sometimes just imagination. 🍌
A Feast Worth Fighting For
By 1863, the Union had won at Gettysburg. Morale was up, but unity was fragile.
Thanksgiving became a symbolic ceasefire, if only at the dinner table.
Lincoln wanted Americans to remember what they were still fighting for—
a country worth sitting down together again someday.
In that sense, Thanksgiving wasn’t born out of abundance,
but out of absence—of peace, of loved ones, of certainty.
And yet, the act of gratitude turned scarcity into strength.
From Civil War to Couch Wars
Thanksgiving became an annual tradition from 1863 onward, evolving from battlefield resilience to football feasts and Black Friday chaos.
But the original idea endures:
that gratitude is rebellion against despair.
Every time you pass the mashed potatoes instead of a grudge,
you’re honoring Lincoln’s quiet rebellion.
The Banana Takeaway
Thanksgiving wasn’t invented for comfort—it was invented for healing.
It reminds us that even in divided times, you can’t spell “reunion” without “yum.” 🍌
🧠 Lessons for Historians
Unity starts with small rituals.
Holidays heal faster than politics.
Gratitude is a political act.
Lincoln’s leadership was empathy in motion.
Every feast is a truce.
❓ FAQ
Q1: When did Thanksgiving become a national holiday?
A: November 28, 1863, by Lincoln’s proclamation.
Q2: Who inspired Lincoln to declare it?
A: Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor and writer.
Q3: Why during the Civil War?
A: To promote unity and gratitude in a divided nation.
Q4: Did everyone celebrate it immediately?
A: The Union states did—Confederate states joined after the war.
Q5: What’s the holiday’s modern legacy?
A: A national reminder to pause, reflect, and reconnect (ideally with pie).
📢 Call to Action
Love stories that blend food, faith, and full-blown history? 🍌
Subscribe to HistoryGoneBananas — where every bite of the past comes with flavor and fun.
Follow on Instagram, YouTube, and Substack Notes for more historical feasts and folly.