History of Thanksgiving dinner in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: December 1, 2025

Thanksgiving dinner is a significant event in the United States and Canada, revolving around a large roasted turkey. It is the largest eating event in the United States, as measured by food and beverage retail sales, and estimates of food consumption. Polling data indicates that Thanksgiving is a popular holiday in the United States, and turkey is the most popular holiday food.

1926: President Coolidge's Pet Raccoon

In 1926, a live raccoon intended for the Thanksgiving feast was sent to the White House, but President Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Grace, decided to keep it as a pet and named her Rebecca.

1935: Civilian Conservation Corps Thanksgiving

In 1935, the Civilian Conservation Corps enjoyed a Thanksgiving Day dinner with a wide array of foods, including roast turkey, oyster stew, cranberry sauce, and an assortment of other dishes.

1942: Sugar Rationing

In 1942, sugar rationing began in the United States, affecting the availability of ingredients for Thanksgiving desserts.

1945: President Eisenhower Seeks Food Aid

In 1945, on the first Thanksgiving after the end of WWII, President Dwight D. Eisenhower testified before Congress seeking more food aid to Europe.

1946: Formalization of Aloha Festivals

In 1946, Aloha Festivals became formalized in Hawaii. The American Thanksgiving dinner started to be celebrated in the 19th century on the islands, with celebrations now happening twice during the Aloha Festivals period.

1946: End of Sugar Rationing

In 1946, sugar rationing ended, bringing relief to Thanksgiving cooks across America.

1947: Introduction of the Beltsville Small White Turkey

In 1947, the Beltsville Small White turkey was introduced commercially, bred for its smaller size and more white meat.

1947: "Poultryless Thursdays" Controversy

In 1947, the Truman administration's "Poultryless Thursdays" campaign, aimed at voluntary rationing, discouraged turkey consumption, sparking opposition from the National Poultry and Egg Board. An agreement was reached at the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation shortly before Thanksgiving in 1947, where turkey was no longer discouraged.

1947: National Turkey Federation Presentation

Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has presented a live turkey to the President of the United States before Thanksgiving.

1953: Swanson's Frozen Thanksgiving Dinner

In 1953, Swanson created a frozen Thanksgiving dinner to use leftover turkey, which became a popular product due to its convenience and the rise of television. The meal included Turkey with gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and peas, and capitalized on flash freezing technology developed in the 1920s.

1953: First Frozen TV Dinner

In 1953, a glut of turkeys led to the creation of the first frozen TV dinner, which was a Thanksgiving dinner.

1955: Invention of Green Bean Casserole

In 1955, Dorcas Reilly of the Campbell Soup Company invented green bean casserole using canned cream of mushroom soup, which became a Thanksgiving standard.

1955: President Eisenhower's Thanksgiving Proclamation

In his 1955 Thanksgiving Day proclamation, President Dwight D. Eisenhower encouraged Americans to help those with less.

1959: Invention of Cranberry Relish

In 1959, Craig Claiborne invented cranberry relish, featuring sour cream, horseradish, and onion, as an alternative to cranberry sauce. It became known as a Pepto Bismol pink concoction.

1985: Beaujolais Nouveau as a Thanksgiving Drink

Since 1985, Beaujolais nouveau has been marketed as a Thanksgiving drink, with the annual release date set one week before Thanksgiving. This wine is only available for a short window each year and said to pair well with Thanksgiving foods.

1989: Presidential Turkey Pardon

Since 1989, the presented turkeys have typically been "pardoned" and sent to a park, rather than being slaughtered for the President's Thanksgiving dinner.

2006: Turkey Industry Statistics

In 2006, American turkey growers were expected to raise 270 million turkeys, with a significant portion consumed during the Thanksgiving-Christmas season.

2015: Thanksgiving Popularity

In 2015, Thanksgiving was the second most popular holiday in the United States, following Christmas. According to a Harris Poll from 2015, turkey was the most popular holiday food.

2024: Turkey Consumption

In 2024, $983 million was spent on turkeys in the USA, highlighting the central role of turkey in Thanksgiving dinners. It is so ingrained that Thanksgiving is sometimes colloquially called "Turkey Day".

2024: Thanksgiving Charity

In 2024, there were increased donations and charity drives to support providing a Thanksgiving meal to those in need. For example, the San Diego Food Bank gave out 14,000 turkeys.