The fourth Thursday of November will find us all celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday, just as we have since 1939 when President Roosevelt established its official date. Although you may think we have been observing Thanksgiving since the Pilgrims and Indians ate together in 1621; it was not until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln established the holiday. Roosevelt’s contribution was to move the holiday back a week, with the express purpose of extending the retail selling season.

The Pilgrim gathering, held to give thanks for their first successful harvest in 1621 was a 72 hours feast . In attendance were the Wampanoag Indians , the tribe who taught the settlers how to best farm the land. There are some interesting trivia facts surrounding that first meal, including the menu, which may or may not have included turkey. It is more likely that deer, lobster and eel were the main course that day in Plymouth. Guests would have eaten with spoons, knives and fingers, as forks were not yet available. For that matter, potatoes would have been missing as well – they had not yet made the journey to the new world.

For all the differences and changes over the years, one thing has remained a constant. Our sentiments of gratitude for the blessings in our lives is still the reason we gather with family and friends. The warmth, love and tradition of the season connects us with all Thanksgivings past, and gives us hope for the future. Whatever Thanksgiving looks like to you, Conklyn’s Flowers has elegant centerpieces, lavish floral arrangements and artistic bouquets that evoke the sentimentality of the season. Browse through our website, or come into our Alexandria flower shop to speak to a floral professional about creating your own floral décor. And from all of us at Conklyn’s, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!