The Thanksgiving holiday as we know it today has pretty much been unchanged for years. I know that for me, my family has been celebrating this holiday the same way since at least the 1980s, but I didn’t exist before then to know any different. That’s the thing about traditions – you keep them the same because they always bring back great memories.

New York itself has had a very long and storied history with Thanksgiving. If you thought that we’ve all been gathering around carving turkeys since the Pilgrims first did that in 1621 you’d be very mistaken. As a matter of fact it wasn’t even an official public holiday until 1789.

New York The First

New York was the first state in the entire nation to start celebrating Thanksgiving nationally. It doesn’t hurt that at the time New York City was the Capital of the USA (Not Washington DC) so that’s where a lot of “firsts” were started after the Revolutionary War. George Washington officially made it a proclamation and designated the fourth Thursday of every November to be a day of giving thanks.

Read More: Thanksgiving Day Topics To Avoid at All Costs

Prior to Thanksgiving being as big as it was, New York City actually had its own odd traditions during this time of year. One of those being Ragamuffin Day. This was when kids would wear costumes and go door to door asking for money. Sounds a lot like Halloween, minus the candy. We do not celebrate that any more. Another day that was celebrated in NYC up until 1888 was Evacuation Day, which celebrated the British leaving New York after their defeat in the American Revolution. That was held on November 25th.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Getty Images for Macy’s

Getty Images for Macy’s

This might be the biggest parade in the country and it was first held back in 1924. It is a staple for most of us to watch at least a bit of the parade, and many others even venture down to Manhattan from the Capital Region to watch it in person. You always take a chance on the weather, but it is a sight to behold.

Did you now that New York wasn’t the first state or city to hold an annual Thanksgiving Day Parade? That honor belongs to Philadelphia who did it four years earlier in 1920.

50 Celebrities Born In New York State

Famous actors, musicians athletes and more! Here are 50 celebrities that were born in New York State. From Manhattan to Buffalo, Glens Falls to Schenectady and all the small towns and big cities in-between. Are any of these celebs from your town?

Gallery Credit: Karolyi