The Writer Who Gave Us Thanksgiving: Sarah Josepha Hale’s Story

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones, sharing a feast, and reflecting on gratitude. But have you ever stopped to wonder how this beloved holiday became a national celebration? Surprisingly, the person responsible wasn’t a president, a pilgrim, or even a politician — it was a writer and editor named Sarah Josepha Hale, whose literary persistence united a divided nation.

Hale is best known as the classic nursery rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb author. But behind the sweet simplicity of that rhyme was a powerhouse of a woman who used her pen to effect real change. A prolific writer and editor, Hale helmed the popular publication Godey’s Lady’s Book for 40 years, where she became a champion for education, women’s rights, and, most famously, Thanksgiving.

In the early 19th century, Thanksgiving differed from the widely celebrated national holiday we know today. Instead, it was primarily a regional observance in New England, celebrated inconsistently across the states. Sarah Josepha Hale saw Thanksgiving as more than just a feast day — in her mind, it was a way to foster unity and gratitude, particularly in a country becoming increasingly divided.

In the 1840s, Hale launched a relentless campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. She wrote editorials, published…