Thanksgiving By josesau_7 1621 First Thanksgiving 1789 President George Washington declares November 26 a day of national thanksgiving 1863 Thanksgiving declared national holiday by President Abraham Lincoln 1920 Pilgrims arrive in America 1920 First NFL football game on Thanksgiving day 1924 First Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 1941 Fourth Thursday of november declared to be Thanksgiving by Congress 1947 First National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation in White house 1989 First turkey was pardoned by President George H.W. Bush