Evacuation Day: The Forgotten Holiday That Predates Thanksgiving
President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 proclamation of Thanksgiving has overshadowed the original patriotic celebration held during the last week of November, known as Evacuation Day. Initially, this commemoration outshone the national holiday declared by Congress in the following decades.
As tensions between America and Great Britain escalated towards independence, New York City remained under British rule until the end of the Revolutionary War. Captured Continentals were held aboard prison ships in New York Harbor. Following the signing of the Treaty of Paris, George Washington led a military march down Broadway to formally take back the city from the U.S., symbolizing its newfound freedom. This victory marked an important turning point for America, and it is commemorated during Evacuation Day.
On November 25, 1783, a group of soldiers climbed the flagpole at Bennett Park in Lower Manhattan and replaced the Union Jack with the American flag. The gesture signified a pivotal moment in history as George Washington toasted his farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern, marking the end of the Revolutionary War.
Over time, the celebration gained popularity and became an annual event in New York City until the 1910s. Although it was largely forgotten with the introduction of Thanksgiving, remnants of its legacy remain visible today.
President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 proclamation of Thanksgiving has overshadowed the original patriotic celebration held during the last week of November, known as Evacuation Day. Initially, this commemoration outshone the national holiday declared by Congress in the following decades.
As tensions between America and Great Britain escalated towards independence, New York City remained under British rule until the end of the Revolutionary War. Captured Continentals were held aboard prison ships in New York Harbor. Following the signing of the Treaty of Paris, George Washington led a military march down Broadway to formally take back the city from the U.S., symbolizing its newfound freedom. This victory marked an important turning point for America, and it is commemorated during Evacuation Day.
On November 25, 1783, a group of soldiers climbed the flagpole at Bennett Park in Lower Manhattan and replaced the Union Jack with the American flag. The gesture signified a pivotal moment in history as George Washington toasted his farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern, marking the end of the Revolutionary War.
Over time, the celebration gained popularity and became an annual event in New York City until the 1910s. Although it was largely forgotten with the introduction of Thanksgiving, remnants of its legacy remain visible today.
and I gotta say, it's wild that it got kinda forgot about after Thanksgiving came along 
. I mean, can you imagine a time when a patriotic holiday was way more popular than another one? It's crazy how history works out like that 
. And to think George Washington himself was there to witness the flag being raised high at Bennett Park in Lower Manhattan 
... that's some serious American hero vibes 
! It's awesome that remnants of it still remain, even if people don't really talk about it as much anymore 
.
I wonder why Evacuation Day got so overshadowed by Thanksgiving? Like, what's up with that? 
I feel like we've lost touch with our history sometimes... Evacuation Day is this amazing story about America's fight for freedom and how far George Washington went to take back his city from the British. It's heartbreaking that it got overshadowed by Thanksgiving, which is a great holiday too but not as significant in the country's past. I wish we could celebrate both and appreciate their importance 
. I'm glad some people still keep that day alive in NY City... it's about time we give it more love 
.
It's like, yeah we're grateful for our freedom and all that but have we ever really stopped to appreciate the actual process of gaining it? I mean, can you imagine being a soldier during the Revolutionary War, fighting for your country and your life... it's mind-blowing 
And to think that this day was once celebrated with such enthusiasm and pride in NYC, only to be overshadowed by Thanksgiving 
Anyway, I'm glad someone is still talking about Evacuation Day, maybe we can learn something new from the past 
. But what really gets me is how it was initially more popular than the national holiday we know today. Its crazy to think that back in the day, people were celebrating their independence and freedom with a big ol' party