The 1950s was a time of great prosperity for our families. But then, life changed as families moved to new houses in the suburbs and began creating new traditions around the Thanksgiving holiday.
During November, elementary schools often put on plays or re-enactments of the first Thanksgiving. Proud parents and teachers would watch as the kids dressed up as pilgrims and Native Americans to tell the story of the very first Thanksgiving.
Before Thanksgiving, families would often sit around the radio or in front of their new televisions to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. The parade included floats and balloons that, at the time, were amazing to watch.
Some popular balloons of the decade were Mighty Mouse, The Gorgeous Gobbler, and Popeye – The Sailor Man. Towards the end of the decade, The Dancing Rockettes also became favorites. Once the parade finished, the moms would get busy cooking and decorating the table.
Accessories like themed tablecloths, plates with turkey prints, and large cornucopia centerpieces would dress up the table and await the spread of food. The 1950s was the time to bring frozen turkeys to grocery stores. Once roasted, the turkey was the star of the meal. It was served with vegetables, mashed potatoes with gravy, Jell-o mold, cranberry sauce, and a new casserole created by a soup company called Green Bean Casserole.
Thanksgiving was a time to be dressed in your Sunday best. Everyone, including the kids, treated the meal as a formal event. Kids were expected to be on their best behavior while their dads carved the turkey at the table. It was a time to be grateful for the things you had. So, families would join each other despite the cold temperatures. Blessings and prayers were essential to the tradition, and families were thankful for the gathering.
Once everyone finished the meal, the attention would shift to the pie. It was made of pumpkin, apple, or mincemeat and served as a dessert. Listening to the Detroit Lions play football while eating the pie was something most people did. But, of course, coffee and card games were popular too. These beautiful moments bring back good memories from the era, the 1950s.
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