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Fun, Feasts and Football – All About Thanksgiving Day!
By Shane Addinall Nov 25, 2020As millions of Americans gather around the dinner table to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, we take a brief look at where the day originated and what it has to do with football!For almost 400 years, Americans have gathered around the dinner table on the 26th of November to celebrate Thanksgiving. This day, a federal holiday in the US, is characterised by plenty of food, plenty of football and, of course, the carving of the iconic turkey.
While often considered a strictly American holiday, Thanksgiving is also celebrated in countries like Canada, Brazil and Liberia. However, almost all of the traditions that we’ve come to know and love are rooted in American culture.
Where it All Began
Although sometimes disputed, the general consensus is that the tradition of Thanksgiving began with the sharing of an autumn harvest feast between the English Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans.
According to historians, that meal was a far cry from the delicacies found at today’s Thanksgiving table. It is presumed that the feast consisted of an abundance of vegetables, including onions, beans, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots and possibly peas. Seafood was also likely present at the table, considering the location of Plymouth, New England near the sea. Other food likely served was wild deer and wildfowl.
On the 3rd of October 1863, US President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the 26th of November 1863 a national Thanksgiving Day to celebrate a critical victory for the Union Army at Gettysburg.
However, Thanksgiving was officially proclaimed a federal holiday on the 26th of December 1941, following a resolution signed by President Herbert Hoover.
What About the Turkey?
Despite its legendary status, it’s interesting to note that the turkey only made an appearance at the dinner table more than 240 years after the first Thanksgiving meal took place.
According to historians, while turkeys may have been around in 1621, it is far more likely that the pilgrims served wildfowl, probably ducks and geese. Turkeys only became a Thanksgiving staple around 1863, after colonist William Bradford mentioned it in his account of the first Thanksgiving meal.
Today, it is safe to say that Thanksgiving is not complete without a delicious turkey in the centre of the table!
Football Kicks Into the Thanksgiving Picture
Another classic American Thanksgiving tradition involves watching football before tucking into dinner. Football became synonymous with Thanksgiving a few years of Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation.
Following the Thanksgiving Day game between Yale and Princeton in 1876, the 26th of November soon became the date of the Intercollegiate Football Association championship game.
Over the years, many universities built up rivalry games that were specifically played on this date. This soon extended to the National Football League (NFL) games.
Thanksgiving’s Pop Culture Effect
Although it doesn’t resonate on the same level as Christmas, Thanksgiving still offers some classic pop culture references, both in movies and series.
Who can forget Monica dancing with a turkey on her head? Or movie classics like Charlie Brown Thanksgiving? These references have, rightly or wrongly, shaped our view of what a Thanksgiving Day ought to look like.
For many people around the world, Thanksgiving is merely a day seen in these films and TV shows. And even if you’ve never seen a turkey in real life, you’ll still have a picture of one being pulled from an oven in all it’s golden glory in your mind when Thanksgiving lunch is mentioned.
Slots To Give Thanks For
In the spirit of this holiday, it is no surprise to see a plethora of Thanksgiving and holiday-themed slots. Here are three of our favourites:
✓ Gobblers Gold
Rival Software’s Gobblers Gold slot is sure to put you in the mood for the holidays. The game’s 5x3 reels tell the story of a 17th century Thanksgiving. Game symbols include pilgrims, colonial ships, pumpkin pie and plenty of other imagery associated with this holiday. Of course, the turkey makes its appearance as the wild symbol. It is against this backdrop that players can win up to 7500 coins.
✓ Wild Turkey
Another popular turkey-themed slot is Wild Turkey. Developed by NetEnt, this slot offers players some absolutely wild returns! Wild Turkey introduces us to a band of Aztec-era turkeys. These flightless birds live for the stacked wilds, which bring about greater rewards. With a respectable RTP of 96.6%, this high variance slot is worth checking out.
✓ 1st Down
Sticking with all things Thanksgiving, we present 1st Down, a football-themed slot that sure to get fans fired up for the big game. Played out across 5 reels, this casino slot gives players the option of selecting their own slot symbols. These symbols include the helmet, a football and the quarterback. Bonuses can be triggered by landing 5 gold coins anywhere on the reels, leading to big wins. Those wins can be multiplied by up to 6x if your chosen teams scores a touchdown!
Unleash Your Animal Instincts
Thanksgiving effectively ushers in the start of the holiday period. It is a day filled with family and friends, food and, of course, football. Beyond those things, however, lies an important lesson.
Every so often, it’s important to set aside time, count your blessings and give thanks for the good things in your life. In a world that is often filled with hatred, anger and jealously, we all need moments where we are reminded to just be thankful.
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