Thanksgiving is a rich blend of traditions from Native American, British, and Puritan influences, shaped over centuries into the modern holiday we celebrate today. The story of Thanksgiving begins long before the Pilgrims' feast in 1621, with earlier harvest festivals and religious observances playing a significant role.
🦃 The True History of Thanksgiving
The commonly told "First Thanksgiving" story dates back to 1621 in Plymouth Colony, but the real history is far more complex.
The Story of the 1621 Harvest Festival
- In 1614, English explorers captured and enslaved Patuxet Native Americans, leaving behind a smallpox outbreak that devastated the local population.
- When the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, the once-thriving Patuxet village was nearly empty, except for Squanto, the sole survivor.
- Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to grow crops and fish and negotiated a peace treaty between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Nation.
- In 1621, the Pilgrims and Wampanoag held a three-day harvest festival, which later inspired the modern Thanksgiving celebration.
❗ Did you know? The "First Thanksgiving" feast did NOT include mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, or pumpkin pie! Instead, the menu likely featured venison, seafood, corn, and seasonal vegetables.
🦃 Other Claims to the First Thanksgiving
📍 1598: San Elizario, Texas – Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate held a Thanksgiving feast near El Paso after leading settlers across the desert.
📍 1619: Berkeley Plantation, Virginia – English settlers declared an annual day of thanks upon their arrival, two years before the Plymouth feast.
📍 1578: Canada’s First Thanksgiving – Explorer Martin Frobisher celebrated Thanksgiving in Newfoundland, decades before the Pilgrims.
👉 Thanksgiving has been observed in various ways long before 1621, making it a tradition rich in history beyond the Pilgrims' feast.
🦃 The Evolution of Thanksgiving in America
1800s: The "First Thanksgiving" Narrative Takes Shape
- By the early 19th century, the 1621 harvest feast was revived as a symbol of American unity.
- Alexander Young popularized the idea of a "First Thanksgiving" based on Edward Winslow’s 1621 letter.
1863: Lincoln Declares Thanksgiving a National Holiday
- During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday, celebrated on the last Thursday of November.
1941: Franklin D. Roosevelt Sets Thanksgiving Date
- FDR moved Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday of November to extend the holiday shopping season during the Great Depression.
👉 Thanksgiving as we know it today is a mix of historical traditions, presidential proclamations, and cultural adaptations.
🍽️ Thanksgiving Food Traditions – Then vs. Now
🥔 Mashed Potatoes – Not part of the 1621 meal (potatoes had yet to arrive in North America).
🦃 Turkey – Smaller than today's 20-pound birds, and may not have been served at all!
🍷 Cranberries – Used by Native Americans for dyes and medicine, but not in sauce form.
🥧 Pumpkin Pie – Based on a 1653 French recipe, not present at the 1621 harvest feast.
🥧 Pecan Pie & Sweet Potatoes – Introduced by the South in the late 19th century.
👉 Victorian-era traditions shaped modern Thanksgiving menus, introducing turkey and cranberry sauce!
🦃 Fun Thanksgiving Facts You Might Not Know
📌 Thanksgiving Football Tradition – Began with a Yale vs. Princeton game in 1876.
📌 First Thanksgiving Day Parade – Gimbels Department Store in Philadelphia, 1920.
📌 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (1924) – Second oldest parade, featuring giant balloons!
📌 Black Friday Origin – The day after Thanksgiving marks the official start of holiday shopping.
📌 Native American National Day of Mourning – Held on Thanksgiving Day to honor the tragic history of colonialism.
🦃 Thanksgiving Around the World
🌎 Thanksgiving isn't just an American holiday! Many cultures have harvest celebrations:
🍁 Canada’s Thanksgiving (Since 1957) – Celebrated on the second Monday of October.
🎑 China’s Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhong Qiu) – A moon festival of gratitude.
🌾 India’s Onam Festival – A harvest celebration in Kerala.
🇬🇧 Britain’s Harvest Festival – Observed in September or October.
👉 Thanksgiving may have evolved differently across cultures, but the spirit of gratitude and feasting remains universal!
🦃 Presidential Turkey Pardon Tradition
🐔 Did you know? The Presidential Turkey Pardon is often credited to Harry S. Truman, but John F. Kennedy was the first to "officially" pardon a turkey in 1963.
📌 Abraham Lincoln may have started the tradition when he spared his son’s pet turkey.
🎉 Final Thoughts – The True Meaning of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving has evolved from early harvest celebrations to a national holiday centered around family, food, and gratitude. While its origins are complex, the modern celebration reflects a blend of historical influences and new traditions.
🔥 As you gather around the table this Thanksgiving, take a moment to reflect on its rich history and diverse origins!
