E.P. Powell once stated that "Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude." Thanksgiving has become a holiday where family gathers to celebrate and give thanks for their blessings. In order to fully appreciate this nationally recognized holiday however, it is important to take a look at Thanksgiving's history and origin.
Journey of the Pilgrims
In 1620, a group of more than one hundred Englishmen set off across the Atlantic Ocean toward the New World. As Simon Worrall of the Smithsonian Magazine explains, these men and women had begun to question the beliefs of the Church of England and originally escaped to Holland in order to obtain more religious freedom. In hopes of attaining more freedom and a better way of life, these Puritans and Separatists decided to receive help from a London stock company and travel on the Mayflower to what is now known as America.
Pilgrims Arrive in America
The Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, in what is currently the state of Massachusetts. Unfortunately, these settlers arrived in the New World too late in the year to grow crops and their survival was in danger. Food production was only the first of their problems, however. Soon disease threatened these colonists during the harsh winter, and by the next fall, half of the original group had perished.
Indians Teach the Pilgrims Farming
By the spring of 1621, the Pilgrims' fate was changing. An article by theholidayspot.com, called "History of Thanksgiving," explains that a group of Iroquois Indians of the Wampanoag Nation, native to that area, taught the remaining colonists how to cultivate the land, grow numerous crops, and fishing and hunting techniques. Some of the crops that the Indians taught the Englishmen to grow included corn, squash, pumpkins, and beans.
Pilgrims and Indians Share a Feast
After conquering farming, fishing, and hunting, the colonists thrived in their new home and crops were bountiful. Each family had more than enough food to survive and a great feast was planned in celebration of the harvest. As stated in the history.com article, "The First Thanksgiving," by Kathleen Curtin, this "autumn harvest feast is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies." The Indian chief, along with 90 other Indians, joined the Englishmen in their celebration, which lasted three days. They dined on roast duck, venison, goose, berries, corn, clams and other shell fish, leeks, hasty pudding, wild plums, and wine. This gathering also included games that tested skills and strength: wrestling, running, jumping, and marksmanship.
Thanksgiving as a National Holiday
On October 3,1863, former President Abraham Lincoln gave a Proclamation speech, written by Secretary of State William H. Seward, declaring the last Thursday of November the official Thanksgiving holiday, as seen in "The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln," edited by Roy P. Basler. Even though previous Presidents, including George Washington, implemented a one-time Thanksgiving Day, it was not until Lincoln that this holiday was celebrated annually.
Thanksgiving Traditions Today
Thanksgiving today is a time when family gathers to give thanks for their blessings. The typical Thanksgiving meal will include turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Watching football and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade have become staples for this holiday as well. The day following Thanksgiving is what is known as "Black Friday," and marks the beginning of the shopping season for Christmas.
References / Sources:
- History.com article, "The First Thanksgiving" by Kathleen Curtin, Food Historian at Plimoth Plantation
- Theholidayspot.com, History of Thanksgiving
- Opening quote found at "Quotations: Happy Thanksgiving" by The Quote Garden
- Smithsonian Magazine, "Pilgrims' Progress" by Simon Worrall (November 2006)
- "The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln." Edited by Roy P. Basler, published by The Abraham Lincoln Association in 2006.
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