Dive into some stories about Brooklyn Thanksgivings

Thanksgiving is now a national holiday that brings to mind tables full of food, fall colors, and friends and family gathering to celebrate. Although Thanksgiving was often celebrated in the early 19th century, it was not until 1863 that Thanksgiving became an official American holiday. How have Brooklynites celebrated the food-centric holiday over the years? Read some stories about Brooklyn Thanksgivings below.

How Brooklynites Celebrated Turkey Day

Thanksgiving in America has always been a rather strange combination of festivals, food and fun. We watch colorful parades in the morning, gorge ourselves in the afternoon, and then retire to our couches to watch two teams of modern gladiators beat each other silly for the prize of a silver trophy.

Traditions have evolved since Thanksgiving became a national holiday in the 1860s, but the sentiment has remained the same. Here you can see how Brooklyn celebrated in the late 19th century, with huge parties and costumed Fantastics.

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A brief history of the dining room and its decoration in Brooklyn and beyond

Thanksgiving was meant to be a day set aside for giving thanks for the harvest, the bounty of the earth, and the gifts of nature and prosperity given to us throughout the year. To celebrate, we come together for a feast where extended family, friends and strangers gather at our tables. There are only a handful of countries that celebrate a day called Thanksgiving – the US and Canada being the most important – but many other countries also have traditional harvest holidays and celebrations under other names.

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Giving thanks in Brooklyn, 1881

Because there were few government or social services for the poor and less fortunate in the 19th century, it became the mission of religious and private institutions to care for those who could not care for themselves. These organizations in Brooklyn cared for orphans, the elderly, the poor and the sick, ensuring that the less fortunate still had a bountiful Thanksgiving. Read on for a look at some of the festivities and the buildings in which they took place.

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The lost 19th century holiday of Evacuation Day

Before Thanksgiving became widespread, a long-forgotten holiday would have been celebrated by many 19th-century New Yorkers in late November. November 25, 1783 became known as Evacuation Day and marked the departure of British troops from New York at the end of the Revolutionary War. As the British left port, American troops entered Manhattan to officially take back the city with a triumphant reception by General Washington and New York Governor Clinton.

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