The history of Thanksgiving is often told as a story of cooperation and harmony between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. But the truth is, the holiday has a much more complicated history than that.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the real history of Thanksgiving, from its origins in religious strife to its transformation into a secular holiday.
We’ll also explore how Thanksgiving became a day of feasting and celebration, and how it continues to be a day of thanksgiving for many Americans.
What is Thanksgiving?
The word “Thanksgiving” was first used in 1533 by English explorer John Hawkins. He wrote of a thanksgiving service held for his safe return from a voyage to the New World. The first Thanksgiving in North America was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in 1621. This feast lasted three days, and was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims.
In 1777, during the American Revolution, the Continental Congress proclaimed a national day of “public thanksgiving” to be celebrated on Thursday, December 18. George Washington issued a similar proclamation in 1789, after he became the first U.S. President. In 1817, New York state became the first to officially designate Thanksgiving as an annual holiday.
Over time, Thanksgiving evolved into a more secular holiday, and is now celebrated by people of all religious backgrounds. Families typically gather for a large meal, and many communities hold parades and host sporting events on Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving is also a time to reflect on what we are thankful for. For many Americans, this includes family, friends, good health, and freedom.
History of Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621, when the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians gathered to give thanks for a successful harvest. The Pilgrims, who had arrived in Massachusetts just a year earlier, were struggling to survive in their new home. They had been through a long, hard winter, and many of them had died from sickness and hunger.
The Wampanoag Indians, who had helped the Pilgrims survive their first year in America, came to celebrate the harvest with them. For three days, they feasted on turkey, venison, fish, berries, and pumpkin pie. It was a joyful occasion, and one that both groups would remember for years to come.
Thanksgiving became an official holiday in the United States in 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. Since then, Thanksgiving has been celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November.
Today, Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family to gather together and give thanks for all that we have. We give thanks for our health, our homes, our families, and our friends. We also give thanks for the freedom we enjoy as Americans.
The First Thanksgiving
In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is now considered one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the United States. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.
Today, Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family to come together and give thanks for all they are thankful for. Whether it’s a traditional turkey dinner or something else entirely, Thanksgiving is a day to enjoy good food and company.
What are people thankful for?
Thanksgiving is a holiday that is all about giving thanks. People are thankful for many things, including their families, friends, homes, and possessions. They may also be thankful for good health, a job, or other blessings in their lives. Some people take the time to express their thankfulness by writing in a gratitude journal or sharing what they are thankful for with others.
On Thanksgiving Day, many people attend church services and then enjoy a traditional meal with family and friends. The meal usually includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. After the meal, some people play games or watch football together. Others may use the time to catch up on conversations or take a nap.
No matter how people spend their Thanksgiving Day, it is a day to reflect on all the things for which we are grateful.
How to show gratitude all year long
Although we typically think of Thanksgiving as a day to feast with family and friends, the holiday actually has a long and complicated history. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621, but it wasn’t until Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday in 1863 that it became an annual tradition.
So how can we show gratitude all year long? First, take some time to learn about the history of Thanksgiving and what it means to different people. Second, express your gratitude to others on a regular basis, whether it’s through kind words, acts of service, or simply saying “thank you.” Finally, be grateful for the good in your life and appreciate all that you have. By practicing gratitude every day, we can make Thanksgiving more than just a day of feasting—we can make it a day of joy, reflection, and thanksgiving.
Why is Thanksgiving celebrated ?
Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November. Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the US, and it is also celebrated in Canada, Liberia, and Grenada.
The tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving started with the Pilgrims, who were English settlers that came to America in 1620. The Pilgrims had a rough first year in America, and they nearly starved to death. In 1621, they had a good harvest, and they decided to have a feast to celebrate and give thanks for their good fortune.
The feast was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims. It lasted three days, and there was plenty of food for everyone. The Pilgrims and Native Americans enjoyed each other’s company so much that they decided to make it an annual tradition.
Nowadays, Thanksgiving is still a time for giving thanks for all the good things in life. Families get together, enjoy a big meal, and watch football or parades on TV. Some people also use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to do some volunteer work or give back to their community in some way.
Conclusion
Thanksgiving is a holiday steeped in history. For centuries, people have come together to give thanks for the harvest, and today, Thanksgiving is celebrated by millions of Americans. While the holiday has evolved over time, the spirit of giving thanks remains at its core. As we gather with our loved ones this Thanksgiving, let us take a moment to reflect on the rich history of this holiday and all that it represents.
