Posted by National Honey Board on November 24, 2021
This is a big week in homes across America – it’s Thanksgiving week! Viewed in the U.S. as the beginning of the holiday entertaining season, the tradition of dedicating a day to give thanks is not something that originated in the “New World.” In fact, it has strong ties to societies and cultures dating back to ancient times.
And Honey is always part of the story!
According to History.com:
“As an annual celebration of the harvest and its bounty, moreover, Thanksgiving falls under a category of festivals that spans cultures, continents and millennia. In ancient times, the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans feasted and paid tribute to their gods after the fall harvest. Thanksgiving also bears a resemblance to the ancient Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot. Finally, historians have noted that Native Americans had a rich tradition of commemorating the fall harvest with feasting and merrymaking long before Europeans set foot on America's shores.”
While the “First Thanksgiving” is widely believed to have taken place in late 1621, it was not declared a national holiday until 1863, when President Lincoln proclaimed that the last Thursday of November would serve as the designated day. Over the decades the timing has changed, with Thanksgiving officially being celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November - a day that many Americans anticipate all year long.
In addition to spending quality time with loved ones who we may not have seen for days, weeks, months or even years, Thanksgiving is also known for being one of the most delicious holidays, because nothing brings families together like food.
Many of us will be digging into a juicy turkey this Thanksgiving, and with its humectant properties, honey locks in your bird’s natural juices to prevent it from drying out. There are many honey-inspired recipes that will give holiday meals a new life.
Whether traveling or staying in, we hope that you get to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday full of love, laughter, and delicious food!