Celebrating Thanksgiving

The Story of the First Thanksgiving
In the crisp autumn of 1621, something very special happened that would inspire the Thanksgiving holiday we celebrate today. This special event was the first Thanksgiving. It was a three-day feast celebrating a successful harvest with the Pilgrims, who were English settlers, and the Wampanoag, a Native American tribe.

Why Did They Have the First Thanksgiving?

The Pilgrims were a group of people from England who wanted to practice their religion freely. They sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on a ship called the Mayflower and arrived in what we now call Plymouth, Massachusetts, in November 1620. Their first winter was really hard. Many of the Pilgrims got sick, and almost half of them died because of the cold, lack of food, and diseases.

But in the spring of 1621, things started to get better. The Pilgrims made friends with the Wampanoag tribe, whose chief was named Massasoit. One very important person was Squanto, a Native American who knew English. Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn, fish in the rivers, and find edible plants. His help was very important for their survival.

By the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims had grown enough food to celebrate a successful harvest. They wanted to give thanks and show their friendship, so they invited the Wampanoag to join them for a big three-day feast. This was the first Thanksgiving.

What Foods Were Eaten at the First Thanksgiving?
The food at the first Thanksgiving was quite different from what we eat today. The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag likely enjoyed a variety of foods, including deer (brought by the Wampanoag), wild birds like turkey, ducks, and geese, and seafood such as fish, clams, lobsters, and mussels. They also had corn, but not the sweet corn we eat today; instead, it was dried corn used to make cornmeal. Other foods included squash, pumpkins, beans, onions, turnips, carrots, and nuts like walnuts and chestnuts. They might have had fruits like grapes and plums, and perhaps even cranberries, though not in the form of modern cranberry sauce.

Why Is the First Thanksgiving Important?

The first Thanksgiving was important because it showed cooperation and teamwork between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag. It was a time of peace and sharing. However, this peace didn’t last forever. As more settlers came from Europe, there were fights over land and resources, which made life very hard for Native American tribes.

How Did Thanksgiving Become a National Holiday?

People in America celebrated Thanksgiving at different times over the years. It wasn’t until President Abraham Lincoln, during the Civil War in 1863, declared it a national holiday that everyone started celebrating it on the same day. Then, in 1941, the U.S. Congress decided that Thanksgiving would be on the fourth Thursday of November every year.

What Does Thanksgiving Mean Today?

Today, Thanksgiving is a special time for gathering with family and friends, sharing a meal, and giving thanks for what we have. It’s also important to remember the history behind Thanksgiving, including both the good times and the tough times that followed for Native Americans. This helps us understand and respect our history better.

So when you sit down for your Thanksgiving meal, remember the story of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, and think about all the things you’re grateful for!