Hints of History

November 27: Thanksgiving Day

Today, November 27, 2025 is Thanksgiving Day. This day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Thanksgiving day has a lot of history behind it as it is traced back to Pilgrims’ 1621 harvest feast. Today, it reminds and shows a significance for Americans to spend time together for food. It has been celebrated for many generations, and is still celebrated today, for its reminder of family.

History of Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving day is celebrated largely for the reminder of a family feast. Thanksgiving celebrations dated back to the first settlements in America which were not celebrated until the 1860s, when Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to become a national holiday. People observe these holidays not only for gatherings, but also days of prayer. 

The history of Thanksgiving can be traced back to 1621, when the Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts celebrated a successful harvest with a feast, which invited the Wampanoag people. This day was referred to as the “First Thanksgiving”. The feast lasted three days and was a moment of gratitude for the Native Americans, who assisted them with food and other supplies. Hety also helped them through their first harsh winter, which gave them a reason to show gratitude toward the Natives.

How do People Celebrate Thanksgiving Day?

Many people in America celebrate Thanksgiving Day, but people celebrate it differently. It may vary between different regions and families, but still shows a gathering on Thanksgiving Day. According to a survey conducted by Pew Research center, 91% celebrate Thanksgiving, with many different traditions. This survey suggests a large number of people observe Thanksgiving Day and celebrate it, in many unique ways. People watch football, and some watch parades during Thanksgiving. People also have a schedule, while most people prefer to have Thanksgiving dinner in the early afternoon. People also decide to go to other people’s houses, while others prefer to have Thanksgiving at their house. This concludes that celebrations, and traditions vary but everyone still celebrates Thanksgiving in many different ways.

Thanksgiving reminds us to gather, and enjoy with friends and family. But it is also a time to remember the Natives, and how they assisted the settlers, through the first harsh winter. We should remember the gratitude they presented to the settlers, and so we should reflect that too everyday; not only on Thanksgiving Day.

Fun Facts: From Pew Research Center.

1. Most Americans (74%) plan to have Thanksgiving dinner with other people this year. 

2. 26% of Americans believe that Thanksgiving dinner includes lots of other people.

3. Around a third of Americans (34%) plan to have Thanksgiving dinner at their home this year.

4. 36% of Americans prefer to have Thanksgiving dinner in the early afternoon (between 3 and 6 p.m. 11% prefer to have Thanksgiving dinner in the evening. 

5. 89% of Americans say driving is the main way they’ll get there.

6. 69% of people expect their trip to take less than an hour and 55% of Americans said they live within an hour’s drive of at least some of their extended family.

7. 35% of Americans say it’s extremely or very likely that they’ll watch sports on Thanksgiving, while 19% say the same about watching a parade. 

Works Cited

• https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/november-27

• How Americans celebrate Thanksgiving | Pew Research Center

• https://www.history.com/videos/history-of-thanksgiving

Shows a Thanksgiving dinner, with family.

December 1st.

December 1st, 1640 is when Portugal regained its independence from Spain, after a period of 60 years of Spanish rule. They were under rule of Spain until 1640, and after independence is a public holiday in Portugal. from 1580. The struggle for independence was led by Portuguese nobility who were frustrated with Spanish interference in Portugal. After independence, John IV was proclaimed as King Joao IV of Portugal.

How did they get Independence?

Portugal got its independence through many different conflicts and fights. But, to get the anger and frustration, some factor must have caused the anger towards Spain. 

The factor that caused Portugal to become frustrated was similar to the thirteen colonies. The reason was taxes, and Spain was giving more taxes which were getting too high. There was also a loss of political autonomy as well. Portugal got independence, through the following major events:

• Battle of Ourique (1139) Afanso I declared himself king, after this battle, giving Portugal independence from Leon.

• Treaty of Zamora (1143): This treaty gave Portugal its independence and also gave Afonso I to become the first king.

• Expansion: Afanso I and his successors expanded the kingdom, taking over present-day boundaries by 1249.

But the monarchy did not last forever due to a revolution that deposed the monarchy in 1910. Due to the revolution, a new government was formed which had concepts of democracy, 

Works Cited

• How Portugal lost and regained its independence | by Sandra Frith | Nov, 2025 | Medium

• Historical Events on December 1 - On This Day