Thanksgiving as we know it originated with the Pilgrims in 1621, with a feast celebrating the survival
of their first year in the new world. The party was a traditional English harvest festival and lasted
three days.
The custom of an annual day for giving thanks continued through the years, and in the late 1770s,
a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress. In 1817, New York
adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom.
By the middle of the 19th century, other states joined in the tradition. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln appointed a National Day of Thanksgiving, and since then, each succeeding president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation.
We now celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November, and it has become the unofficial start of the holiday season. Businesses look forward to the following day, the national shopping day that has become known as Black Friday.
The annual tradition came from the shift to profitability for retailers during the holiday season, a time when retailers went from being unprofitable or in the red, to being profitable, or in the black. The Saturday after Thanksgiving is recognized in Voorhees as Small Business Saturday, as it is elsewhere in the country. The promotion began in 2010 to encourage holiday shoppers to patronize small local businesses.
The Monday after Thanksgiving has come to be known as Cyber Monday, when retailers offer discounts to online shoppers.
Small businesses and entrepreneurship are the foundation of our local economy and quality of
life. In addition to a vast array of wonderful small restaurants, Voorhees has a great selection of
small businesses for jewelry, clothing, gift items, housewares, pottery, art, music, baked goods
and even toys.
All of our businesses can be found on the township website at voorheesnj.com, which also shows businesses that are part of Shop Voorhees. This program allows a portion of your normal purchasing dollars spent on goods and services in Voorhees to be applied to your property tax bill, thereby reducing your taxes at the end of the tax year.
While traditions vary, Thanksgiving should remain a holiday that focuses on food, tradition, family
and gratitude. On behalf of the township committee, have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.
The township will present its winter village and tree-lighting ceremony at Town Center on Friday, Dec. 5, at
6 p.m. For more information, visit voorheesnj.com and other township social-media platforms.
The Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club’s 17th annual community service awards will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lucien’s Distinguished Catering in Berlin. For sponsorship opportunities and more information, Rotary club website at www.voorheesbreakfastrotary.org or call Nick Colanzi at (856) 435-6200.
