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Thanksgiving Faces Criticism: Rethinking Tradition and History

11/28/2025

Center

Celebrities Advocate Thanksgiving Reform

Thanksgiving dates to 1621, when Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Native Americans shared a harvest feast.
President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, establishing its current date.
The holiday is controversial because some critics say it masks the oppression of Indigenous peoples and animal cruelty tied to traditional feasting.
Celebrities Alicia Silverstone and Shailene Woodley have advocated alternative celebrations and urged reevaluating Thanksgiving's historical narrative and practices.

Right

Universities Address Thanksgiving

Educational institutions address Thanksgiving's colonial roots as the holiday nears.
At the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), the event Decolonizing Thanksgiving in the Classroom centers Indigenous perspectives.
The University of Massachusetts designates Thanksgiving as a Day of Mourning, reflecting Native American concerns about genocide.
Some argue Thanksgiving should unite communities rather than deepen divisions.
The National Day of Mourning educates the public and challenges Thanksgiving myths.

History

Historical Context

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday, establishing its observance on the final Thursday of November. This decision followed the 1621 harvest feast shared by Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag, which has since been critiqued for its colonial implications. Today, institutions like UC Davis confront these historical narratives, advocating for Indigenous perspectives and acknowledging the injustices faced by Native American communities.

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Celebrities Advocate Thanksgiving Reform

Thanksgiving dates to 1621, when Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Native Americans shared a harvest feast.
President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, establishing its current date.
The holiday is controversial because some critics say it masks the oppression of Indigenous peoples and animal cruelty tied to traditional feasting.
Celebrities Alicia Silverstone and Shailene Woodley have advocated alternative celebrations and urged reevaluating Thanksgiving's historical narrative and practices.

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