The Real Thanksgiving (Online)

Tuesday, November 24, 2026 7:00—8:15 PM Online Please note: this is a virtual program that will take place via Zoom. Registration required for the link. Registrants will receive a link to access the Zoom Webinar via email. On the fourth Thursday of November every year, countless millions of Americans gather around the table--and the television--to enjoy a banquet, football, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s a tradition that goes back decades. But it wasn’t always so--and that’s what this program examines. We’ll look at that first sport-famished, non-Santa, un-apple-pie Thanksgiving in the early 17th century and see how that straight-forward, rather modest feast among early colonials and indigenous peoples transformed into the most widely celebrated event in our country, a day on which more Americans travel than any other holiday. We’ll explore regional traditions, folklore, music, and even a few recipes--and try to discover the “thanks” in Thanksgiving.  Recording Note: This program will be recorded. All registrants will receive the recording via email within 48 hours of the program. Made possible by the Groton Public Library Endowment Trust. Presented in cooperation with a variety of other area libraries. Register on Zoom This program is made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library. To find out more about their work and how you can get involved, visit the Friends of the Library webpage.