Thanksgiving: More Than Just a Holiday

Are you excited for Thanksgiving? The delicious food, family gatherings, and moments of gratitude are things we look forward to each year. But did you know how it all started? The story of Thanksgiving goes back over 400 years to a time of survival, resilience, and an unexpected friendship that would change history. Back in 1621, a group of English Pilgrims, who were looking for religious freedom, landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, after a  challenging journey on the Mayflower. They faced a harsh winter, where illness and starvation took many lives. But in the spring, they found some help from the Wampanoag people. The Wampanoag, under the leadership of Chief Massasoit, showed them how to live in the land. A member of their tribe, Squanto, who had met Europeans before and learned English, taught the Pilgrims how to grow crops like corn, catch fish, and live off the land. When the first successful harvest came that autumn, the Pilgrims wanted to express their gratitude for helping them survive that year and for being their friends . They invited Chief Massasoit and 90 Wampanoag men to join a three-day feast that celebrated their friendship and teamwork. This feast was very different from the Thanksgiving meals we have today. It emphasized a powerful moment of unity. Thanksgiving wasn’t always celebrated every year after that, but the tradition of giving gratitude grew over time. During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress declared certain days for thanksgiving to celebrate victories or important events. Finally, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, hoping it would bring the nation together during the Civil War. Since then, Thanksgiving has become one of the most  beloved American holidays. Today, Thanksgiving is a time for families and friends to come together, share a meal, and take a moment to think about the things we’re grateful for. Along with the turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, many families also enjoy watching football, watching parades like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. But Thanksgiving is also a reminder of the complex history of colonial America.