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Mark your calendars for a day dedicated to honoring the pioneers and founding fathers of our nation on December 22 – Forefathers' Day! This holiday has been celebrated since the early 1700s to remember and pay tribute to those who paved the way for our country's independence and freedom. It's a time to reflect on their sacrifices and contributions, as well as celebrate their legacy. From parades to historical reenactments, there are many ways to commemorate this day and show your appreciation for our forefathers. Let's take a moment to remember where we came from and honor those who made it all possible.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1769</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Forefathers' Day Inception</div><div class='timeline-text'>Forefathers' Day was first celebrated by the Old Colony Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts to remember the landing of the Pilgrims.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1770</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Annual Tradition Established</div><div class='timeline-text'>The club made the holiday an annual tradition, featuring a march, speeches and a festive meal.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Growing Respect and Remembrance</div><div class='timeline-text'>During the 1800s, the holiday gained national recognition as a day to honor our nation's founding fathers and their contributions.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1863</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First National Celebration</div><div class='timeline-text'>Forefathers' Day was celebrated nationally for the first time, further strengthening the tradition of honoring pioneer contributions.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1900s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Formal Recognition</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the 1900s, formal gatherings, ceremonies, and historical reenactments became a key part of Forefathers' Day celebrations.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>Present Day</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Modern Observance</div><div class='timeline-text'>Today, Forefathers' Day is celebrated with various activities like parades, prayer services, and events highlighting the lives and deeds of our founding fathers.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a traditional feast</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather your family and friends and prepare a traditional feast to honor and celebrate the forefathers who laid the foundation for our country.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Visit historical sites</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take a trip to historical sites such as Plymouth, Massachusetts or Jamestown, Virginia to learn more about the history of our forefathers and their impact on America.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Watch a patriotic movie</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather your family and watch a movie that honors our forefathers, such as "1776" or "John Adams". It will be a great way to learn more about their contributions to our country while spending quality time together.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a family tree</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather your family and create a family tree, tracing your roots back to your forefathers. It will be a meaningful and educational activity for everyone.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a reenactment event</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Check your local community for any reenactment events that may be happening to honor the forefathers. It will be a fun and interactive way to learn more about their lives and the history of our country.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It honors the pioneers and founding fathers of our nation</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Forefathers’ Day is a time to remember and appreciate the sacrifices made by the leaders and settlers who helped establish America. It’s important to reflect on their contributions and continue to learn from their examples.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It promotes patriotism and pride in our country</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>By acknowledging the significance of Forefathers’ Day, we are reminded of the principles and values that our nation was founded upon. This can help instill a sense of pride and unity among citizens, strengthening the overall bond of our country.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It provides an opportunity for historical education</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Forefathers’ Day not only celebrates our founding fathers, but it also offers a chance for people to learn more about American history and its impact on present day. This can deepen understanding and appreciation for the struggles and triumphs of those who came before us.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Forefathers' Day is Older than Thanksgiving Day in Plymouth</h3><p class='facts-content'>Forefathers' Day was celebrated in Plymouth before Thanksgiving was formally recognized as a holiday. Despite Thanksgiving’s origins in Plymouth, the official Thanksgiving Day holiday was only declared in 1863, almost 200 years after Forefathers' Day began being commemorated.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Forefathers' Day Commemorates the Mayflower Pilgrims' Landing</h3><p class='facts-content'>Forefathers’ Day is observed to mark the day the Mayflower Pilgrims made landfall in December 1620. This day serves as a remembrance of those first steps taken on an unfamiliar land that would later become the United States of America.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Forefathers' Rock Holds Historical Significance</h3><p class='facts-content'>An important symbol tied to Forefathers’ Day is Plymouth Rock. A popular legend holds that this was the site where Pilgrims first stepped off the Mayflower, although there's no historical evidence to confirm this claim.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Forefathers' Day Features a "Succotash" Tradition</h3><p class='facts-content'>Succotash, a traditional Native American dish of corn and beans, is often served on this day. This is thought to be in reference to the first harsh winter the Pilgrims endured, when they relied on corn stores left by Indigenous people.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Forefathers' Day Celebrates Legacy with "Pilgrim's Progress" Parade</h3><p class='facts-content'>A unique aspect of celebrating Forefathers’ Day in Plymouth is the annual "Pilgrim’s Progress" parade. Participants dress in Pilgrim garb and march from the Mayflower Society House to Burial Hill, following a route believed to be taken by the original Pilgrims.</p></div></div>
Forefathers' Day is celebrated on December 22 every year. In 2024 Forefathers' Day will occur on a Sunday.
2023
Dec 22
Friday
2024
Dec 22
Sunday
2025
Dec 22
Monday
2026
Dec 22
Tuesday
2027
Dec 22
Wednesday
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