Ah, Thanksgiving. It’s one of the best times of the year — who doesn’t love good food or time with loved ones? We all have heard legends about the origin of this uniquely American holiday, but did you know New Jersey actually played a crucial role in the creation of Thanksgiving?

Everyone undoubtedly has a lot to be thankful for at Thanksgiving — but it turns out they should also be giving thanks to New Jersey.
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(And no, it's not because of our delicious pork roll sandwiches, our world-class beaches, our gorgeous state parks, or our impeccable pizza. But they can be thankful for those things, too!).
New Jersey actually played a central role in the very creation of the iconic American holiday.
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The whole concept was dreamed up by a New Jerseyan! Representative Elias Boudinot of New Jersey suggested the idea back in September 1789.
Boudinot thought a day of giving thanks was the perfect idea after the turmoil involved in the creation of the country.
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And President George Washington obviously loved the idea!

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On October 3, 1789, President George Washington issued a formal proclamation establishing Thanksgiving Day as a holiday for all Americans.
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Fun fact: It was the first federal holiday established by the U.S. government.
The actual timing of the holiday has varied over the years. It was President Abraham Lincoln who formalized it to be the last Thursday of November.
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The date moved around a bit in the following decades, but ultimately it was decided to keep the last Thursday of November as the official holiday date.
It's a special holiday to celebrate with your loved ones and express gratitude for all that's gone right.
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And of course, eat delicious food. Boudinot in New Jersey had the right idea!

So, next time you’re explaining what you’re thankful for around the dinner table, make sure to give a shout out to New Jersey!

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