The History of Thanksgiving
By Molly Allen (11-22-24)
We all know Thanksgiving, the beloved holiday that lands in late November where family and friends gather around the table and eat an assortment of well known foods like turkey, stuffing, gravy, and mashed potatoes.
We also are aware about the origin of Thanksgiving, which dates back to November 1621, where Plymouth colonists from England and Native American Wampanoag people shared a feast during autumn. That harvest feast is known and acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. It became a national holiday in 1863, during the Civil War, which was proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln to be a holiday held in November. But let's go more into the first Thanksgiving meal, as many people believe that Thanksgiving celebrations are used to mask the bloodshed behind the holiday.
In 1620, a ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England. It carried 102 passengers who endured an uncomfortable and annoying crossing which lasted 66 days. They ended up dropping anchor near the tip of Cape Cod, which was far away from their planned destination which was at the mouth of the Hudson River. In a month, they ended up crossing Massachusetts Bay where the Pilgrims began to establish a village in Plymouth.
The first winter in Plymouth was brutal so that meant most colonists remained inside the ship. Those who did suffered from scurvy and outbreaks of very contagious diseases. Only half of the 102 passengers that had initially sailed in the Mayflower survived that winter and in march the remaining settlers moved ashore. Once they moved to land, they received a visit from Abenaki tribe member who spoke English.
After several days the tribe member returned with another Native American, Squanto, who had been kidnapped by an English sea captain and sold into slavery before escaping to London and returning with many stories. He taught the Pilgrims, and helped them through the winter. He helped them form an alliance with the Wampanoag, a local tribe.
But when was the first Thanksgiving? In November 1621, after the Pilgrims first successful corn harvest, Governor William Bardford organized a celebration feast and invited their Native American allies. This is remembered as the “first Thanksgiving” and the festival lasted for three days.
However this story may not be entirely accurate as some individuals and Native Americans have taken a dislike with the way it is told to the public, as they believe it’s a way of masking the bloody history between Native Americans and Europeans that had resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. Protesters, or people who aren’t in favor of Thanksgiving, have gathered on the day designated as Thanksgiving at the top of Coles Hill, which looks over Plymouth Rock to celebrate a National Day of Mourning. Some historians have recorded other events that happened before Thanksgiving where people came together to give thanks. People are also unsure if the story of Thanksgiving is even valid. People wonder what actually happened during the first Thanksgiving.
However, although the history of Thanksgiving can be a little blurry at times, it's important to remember that for a lot of people, Thanksgiving is a way for people to come together and be thankful.
We also are aware about the origin of Thanksgiving, which dates back to November 1621, where Plymouth colonists from England and Native American Wampanoag people shared a feast during autumn. That harvest feast is known and acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. It became a national holiday in 1863, during the Civil War, which was proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln to be a holiday held in November. But let's go more into the first Thanksgiving meal, as many people believe that Thanksgiving celebrations are used to mask the bloodshed behind the holiday.
In 1620, a ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England. It carried 102 passengers who endured an uncomfortable and annoying crossing which lasted 66 days. They ended up dropping anchor near the tip of Cape Cod, which was far away from their planned destination which was at the mouth of the Hudson River. In a month, they ended up crossing Massachusetts Bay where the Pilgrims began to establish a village in Plymouth.
The first winter in Plymouth was brutal so that meant most colonists remained inside the ship. Those who did suffered from scurvy and outbreaks of very contagious diseases. Only half of the 102 passengers that had initially sailed in the Mayflower survived that winter and in march the remaining settlers moved ashore. Once they moved to land, they received a visit from Abenaki tribe member who spoke English.
After several days the tribe member returned with another Native American, Squanto, who had been kidnapped by an English sea captain and sold into slavery before escaping to London and returning with many stories. He taught the Pilgrims, and helped them through the winter. He helped them form an alliance with the Wampanoag, a local tribe.
But when was the first Thanksgiving? In November 1621, after the Pilgrims first successful corn harvest, Governor William Bardford organized a celebration feast and invited their Native American allies. This is remembered as the “first Thanksgiving” and the festival lasted for three days.
However this story may not be entirely accurate as some individuals and Native Americans have taken a dislike with the way it is told to the public, as they believe it’s a way of masking the bloody history between Native Americans and Europeans that had resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. Protesters, or people who aren’t in favor of Thanksgiving, have gathered on the day designated as Thanksgiving at the top of Coles Hill, which looks over Plymouth Rock to celebrate a National Day of Mourning. Some historians have recorded other events that happened before Thanksgiving where people came together to give thanks. People are also unsure if the story of Thanksgiving is even valid. People wonder what actually happened during the first Thanksgiving.
However, although the history of Thanksgiving can be a little blurry at times, it's important to remember that for a lot of people, Thanksgiving is a way for people to come together and be thankful.
