Thanksgiving is a cherished American holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. But how did it begin? Its roots trace back to a shared meal in the early 17th century between English settlers and Native Americans.
The 1621 Harvest Feast
In the autumn of 1621, after a successful corn harvest, the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony (in present-day Massachusetts) held a three-day feast to give thanks. They were joined by members of the Wampanoag tribe, who had helped them survive their first harsh winter in the New World.
This gathering is often considered the “first Thanksgiving,” though it was not called that at the time, nor was it an annual event.
From Local Tradition to National Holiday
For centuries, days of thanksgiving were observed locally and sporadically, often as religious observances rather than feasts. It wasn’t until 1863—during the Civil War—that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.
Lincoln’s proclamation was influenced by decades of advocacy by writer Sarah Josepha Hale, who campaigned for a unified national holiday.
Modern Thanksgiving
Today, Thanksgiving is a time for family gatherings, feasting (typically featuring turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie), and expressing gratitude. While it celebrates abundance and community, modern observances also increasingly acknowledge the complex and often painful history between European settlers and Indigenous peoples.
Key Facts
- The first Thanksgiving likely included venison, wildfowl, corn, and shellfish—not turkey as we know it today.
- Thanksgiving didn’t become a fixed federal holiday until 1941, when Congress officially set the date as the fourth Thursday in November.
- Many Native American communities observe a National Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving to honor their ancestors and raise awareness of historical injustices.