American’s first peoples have endured, and they remain a vital cultural, political, social, and moral presence. Tribal America has brought to this great country certain values and ideas that have become ingrained in the American spirit: the knowledge that humans can thrive and prosper without destroying the natural environment; the understanding that people from very different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and traditions can come together to build a great country; and the awareness that diversity can be a source of strength rater than division.
November 1
All Saints’ Day is a Christian holy day observed by many Western churches on November 1 and by Eastern churches on the first Sunday after Pentecost. The day now honors all saints of the church, even those not known by name.
November 2
All Souls’ Day
This is a Roman Catholic day commemoration the faithful departed or those baptized Christians believed to be in purgatory. It is celebrated on November 2 unless this date falls on a Sunday. When this happens, All Souls’ Day is celebrated on November 3.
Election Day
Every four years, on Election Day, (Tuesday after the first Monday in November), registered voters in the United States cast their votes for presidential electors. Collectively, these electors form the Electoral College. The number of electors per state is equal to the number in its Congressional delegation. Thus, each state has at least three electors. These electors meet on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December to elect the President and Vice-President.
In 1854, Congress established Election Day in response to abuses caused by the previous system of electing the President and Vice-President. Under the old system, states could appoint electors at any time within 34 days prior to the convening of electors in December.
Thanksgiving
The first recorded observance of thanksgiving in America was a religious occasion that did not include the feast now associated with the holiday. On December 4, 1619, a small group of English settlers arrived at Berkeley Plantation on the James River in Virginia. In accordance with their charter, the group observed this day by giving thanks to God.
Two years later, the residents of Plymouth rejoiced in an abundant crop and Governor William Bradford proclaimed a three-day harvest festival. The colonists and about 90 Indians enjoyed an enormous feast that included ducks, geese, turkey, fish, corn bread and vegetables. It is this particular feast that is usually referred to as the First Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving celebrations were observed irregularly in the years after 1621. However, by 1789, the Thanksgiving custom had spread throughout the colonies and in that year, George Washington proclaimed November 26 as a ‘day of public thanksgiving and prayer.” Washington’s proclamation still did not lead to a regular national observance although many states did celebrate Thanksgiving on an annual basis.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that invited Americans to “observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.” The President of the United States repeated such proclamations for the next 75 years. In 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt changed the date to the fourth Thursday in November. His goal was to help merchants by lengthening the Christmas shopping season.
