The first time Thanksgiving was celebrated nationally was in 1789, when President George Washington declared Thursday, Nov. 26, a holiday.

Then in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared that the fourth Thursday of November would be celebrated as Thanksgiving.

Every year the president is given a turkey to eat for the holiday, and since 1989, he has “pardoned” the bird — allowing it to live rather than eat it.

That relatively recent tradition may have its roots in the Lincoln White House. In 1863, Lincoln’s 10-year-old son, Tad, became fond of a turkey given to the family for a holiday feast. Tad named the turkey Jack and begged his dad to save the animal. Lincoln did.

The only problem with the notion that this was the first Thanksgiving turkey pardon: That story involved the Lincoln Christmas turkey!