Thanksgiving 2023 - Tradition, Origins & Meaning | HISTORY (2024)

Thanksgiving at Plymouth

In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers—an assortment of religious separatists seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith and other individuals lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in the "New World." After a treacherous and uncomfortable crossing that lasted 66 days, they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod, far north of their intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River. One month later, the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay, where the Pilgrims, as they are now commonly known, began the work of establishing a village at Plymouth.

Did you know? Lobster, seal and swans were on the Pilgrims' menu.

History of Thanksgiving

Throughout that first brutal winter, most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy and outbreaks of contagious disease. Only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see their first New England spring. In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore, where they received an astonishing visit from a member of the Abenaki tribe who greeted them in English.

Several days later, he returned with another Native American, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who had been kidnapped by an English sea captain and sold into slavery before escaping to London and returning to his homeland on an exploratory expedition. Squanto taught the Pilgrims, weakened by malnutrition and illness, how to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers and avoid poisonous plants. He also helped the settlers forge an alliance with the Wampanoag, a local tribe, which endured for more than 50 years and remains one of the few examples of harmony between European colonists and Native Americans.

When Was the First Thanksgiving?

In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as America’s “first Thanksgiving”—although the Pilgrims themselves may not have used the term at the time—the festival lasted for three days. While no record exists of the first Thanksgiving’s exact menu, much of what we know about what happened at the first Thanksgiving comes from Pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow, who wrote:

“Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

Historians have suggested that many of the dishes were likely prepared using traditional Native American spices and cooking methods. Because the Pilgrims had no oven and the Mayflower’s sugar supply had dwindled by the fall of 1621, the meal did not feature pies, cakes or other desserts, which have become a hallmark of contemporary celebrations

Origins of Thanksgiving National Holiday

Pilgrims held their second Thanksgiving celebration in 1623 to mark the end of a long drought that had threatened the year’s harvest and prompted Governor Bradford to call for a religious fast. Days of fasting and thanksgiving on an annual or occasional basis became common practice in other New England settlements as well.

During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of thanksgiving a year, and in 1789 George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States; in it, he called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution. His successors John Adams and James Madison also designated days of thanks during their presidencies.

In 1817, New York became the first of several states to officially adopt an annual Thanksgiving holiday; each celebrated it on a different day, however, and the American South remained largely unfamiliar with the tradition.

Thanksgiving Becomes a Holiday

In 1827, the noted magazine editor and prolific writer Sarah Josepha Hale—author, among countless other things, of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb”—launched a campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. For 36 years, she published numerous editorials and sent scores of letters to governors, senators, presidents and other politicians, earning her the nickname the “Mother of Thanksgiving.”

Abraham Lincoln finally heeded her request in 1863, at the height of the Civil War, in a proclamation entreating all Americans to ask God to “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.”

He scheduled Thanksgiving for the final Thursday in November, and it was celebrated on that day every year until 1939 when Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday up a week in an attempt to spur retail sales during the Great Depression. Roosevelt’s plan, known derisively as Franksgiving, was met with passionate opposition, and in 1941 the president reluctantly signed a bill making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November.

Thanksgiving Food

In many American households, the Thanksgiving celebration has lost much of its original religious significance; instead, it now centers on cooking and sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends. Turkey, a Thanksgiving staple so ubiquitous it has become all but synonymous with the holiday, may or may not have been on offer when the Pilgrims hosted the inaugural feast in 1621.

Today, however, nearly 90 percent of Americans eat the bird—whether roasted, baked or deep-fried—on Thanksgiving, according to the National Turkey Federation. Other traditional foods include stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Volunteering is a common Thanksgiving Day activity, and communities often hold food drives and host free dinners for the less fortunate.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

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Parades have also become an integral part of the holiday in cities and towns across the United States. Presented by Macy’s department store since 1924, New York City’s Thanksgiving Day parade is the largest and most famous, attracting some 2 to 3 million spectators along its 2.5-mile route and drawing an enormous television audience. It typically features marching bands, performers, elaborate floats conveying various celebrities and giant balloons shaped like cartoon characters.

Beginning in the mid-20th century and perhaps even earlier, the president of the United States has “pardoned” one or two Thanksgiving turkeys each year, sparing the birds from slaughter and sending them to a farm for retirement. A number of U.S. governors also perform the annual turkey pardoning ritual.

History of the Thanksgiving Day Parade

Thanksgiving Controversies

For some scholars, the jury is still out on whether the feast at Plymouth really constituted the first Thanksgiving in the United States. Indeed, historians have recorded other ceremonies of thanks among European settlers in North America that predate the Pilgrims’ celebration.

In 1565, for instance, the Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilé invited members of the local Timucua tribe to a dinner in St. Augustine, Florida, after holding a mass to thank God for his crew’s safe arrival. On December 4, 1619, when 38 British settlers reached a site known as Berkeley Hundred on the banks of Virginia’s James River, they read a proclamation designating the date as “a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

Some Native Americans and many others take issue with how the Thanksgiving story is presented to the American public, and especially to schoolchildren. In their view, the traditional narrative paints a deceptively sunny portrait of relations between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people, masking the long and bloody history of conflict between Native Americans and European settlers that resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands. Since 1970, protesters have gathered on the day designated as Thanksgiving at the top of Cole’s Hill, which overlooks Plymouth Rock, to commemorate a “National Day of Mourning.” Similar events are held in other parts of the country.

Thanksgiving's Ancient Origins

Although the American concept of Thanksgiving developed in the colonies of New England, its roots can be traced both to Native Americans, as well as back to the other side of the Atlantic.

Both the Separatists who came over on the Mayflower and the Puritans who arrived soon after brought with them a tradition of providential holidays—days of fasting during difficult or pivotal moments and days of feasting and celebration to thank God in times of plenty.

As an annual celebration of the harvest and its bounty, moreover, Thanksgiving falls under a category of festivals that spans cultures, continents and millennia. In ancient times, the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans feasted and paid tribute to their gods after the fall harvest. Thanksgiving also bears a resemblance to the ancient Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot.

Finally, historians have noted that Native Americans had a rich tradition of commemorating the fall harvest with feasting and merrymaking long before Europeans set foot on America's shores.

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Thanksgiving at Plymouth

The article "Thanksgiving at Plymouth" discusses the historical events surrounding the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620 and the subsequent establishment of the Plymouth colony. It covers the challenges faced by the Pilgrims, their interactions with Native American tribes, the first Thanksgiving feast, and the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States.

Concepts Covered in the Article

The concepts covered in the article include:

  1. Mayflower Voyage and Arrival: The journey of the Mayflower from Plymouth, England to the New World, and the challenges faced by the passengers during the voyage.
  2. Establishment of Plymouth Colony: The difficulties faced by the Pilgrims in establishing a village at Plymouth and their interactions with Native American tribes.
  3. First Thanksgiving: The circ*mstances surrounding the first Thanksgiving feast in November 1621, including the participation of Native American allies and the foods likely present at the feast.
  4. Origins of Thanksgiving National Holiday: The historical development of Thanksgiving as a national holiday in the United States, including the role of President Abraham Lincoln in establishing Thanksgiving as an annual celebration.
  5. Thanksgiving Food: The traditional foods associated with Thanksgiving celebrations, such as turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
  6. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: The significance of parades in Thanksgiving celebrations, particularly the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
  7. Thanksgiving Controversies: The article also addresses controversies and alternative perspectives related to the traditional narrative of Thanksgiving, including the portrayal of relations between Pilgrims and Native Americans, and the National Day of Mourning.

If you have specific questions about any of these concepts or would like more detailed information on a particular aspect of the article, feel free to ask!

Thanksgiving 2023 - Tradition, Origins & Meaning | HISTORY (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of thanksgiving day 2023? ›

By CNBCTV18November 23, 2023, 6:58:48 AM IST IST (Published) Thanksgiving Day, observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November, is a national holiday in most parts of the United States. The day is dedicated to celebrating the harvest season and expressing gratitude for the blessings of the year.

What are Thanksgiving origins and traditions? ›

Originally an English tradition, days of thanksgiving typically were marked by religious services to give thanks to God, or to celebrate a bountiful harvest. The first recorded religious thanksgiving day in Plymouth took place a full two years after the 1621 feast.

What is the real history of Thanksgiving? ›

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists from England and the Native American Wampanoag people shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states.

Why did the tradition of Thanksgiving change from year to year? ›

In 1939 some Americans had the option of celebrating Thanksgiving on two different dates. Because that year had five Thursdays in November, retailers asked Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt to push the holiday back a week in order to give people more time for holiday shopping.

What's the meaning of Thanksgiving? ›

the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God. an expression of thanks, especially to God.

What is the best message for Thanksgiving? ›

Thanksgiving Messages for Friends
  • Wishing you hope, joy, peace, good health, favor, and love on this Thanksgiving Day! ...
  • My friend, Happy Thanksgiving to you! ...
  • November is the time to be thankful, a time to remember and to embrace those who enrich our lives. ...
  • Happy Thanksgiving. ...
  • Happy Thanksgiving! ...
  • Happy Thanksgiving!
Aug 14, 2023

What are 5 interesting facts about Thanksgiving? ›

Thanksgiving history facts
  • Thanksgiving dates back to 1621. ...
  • The first Thanksgiving feast was three days long. ...
  • Thanksgiving became a holiday in 1863. ...
  • For Native Americans, it's a day of quiet reflection and prayer. ...
  • 293.3 million people will eat turkey this Thanksgiving. ...
  • Thanksgiving football was initially a college tradition.
Nov 23, 2023

What is the spiritual meaning of Thanksgiving? ›

It is perceived as an act of worship, expressing gratitude for all things as part of God's provision, often with the sentiment “God bless”. Thanksgiving has both historical and spiritual origins in Christianity, emphasizing appreciation and adoration for God, who is the source of every good and perfect gift.

What is the origin of Thanksgiving in the Bible? ›

In the last week of Jesus' life, He met with His disciples in a large upper room where He shared the Passover meal with them. It was during this Passover meal that the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist, which means thanksgiving—was instituted.

How many natives were killed on Thanksgiving? ›

Several times this happened because of the massacres of Native people, including in 1637 when Massachusetts Colony Governor John Winthrop declared a day of thanksgiving after volunteers murdered 700 Pequot people.

What did the Pilgrims do to the natives on Thanksgiving? ›

Re-informing the history of Thanksgiving

James wrote a scathing indictment of the Pilgrims. He described how they desecrated Native American graves, stealing food and land and decimating the population with disease. The speech was deemed inappropriate and inflammatory and James was given a revised speech.

Is Thanksgiving Day a pagan holiday? ›

While Thanksgiving is not tied to any one specific religion, it's traditions are quite similar to a number of ancient Pagan harvest celebrations. For example, in ancient Rome they celebrated the holiday of Cerelia, which honored the harvest goddess of grain called Ceres.

Why many Native Americans do not support the celebration of Thanksgiving? ›

“Most Native Americans I know celebrate Thanksgiving, but some won't, and I honor those people because for them, that's their truth,” Abeyta said. “To them, it's a reminder of genocide, colonialism, and oppression, it's a symbol of smallpox blankets, Christianity, land grabs and manifest destiny.

Who is the mother of Thanksgiving? ›

However, probably very few people know the name of the person perhaps most responsible for the annual and national celebration of Thanksgiving – a person so passionate about the holiday and its purpose that she dedicated much of her life to seeing it properly recognized. Her name was Sarah Josepha Hale.

What did Abraham Lincoln say about Thanksgiving? ›

I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

Why is Thanksgiving on a Thursday? ›

Among the Puritan colonists, Thursday may have been tradition to distance the event from the Sabbath day. Thursday was also a typical day for lectures in New England, which may have contributed to the reason Thanksgiving is a Thursday.

Why was a day of Thanksgiving declared during the war? ›

On October 3, 1863, expressing gratitude for a pivotal Union Army victory at Gettysburg, President Abraham Lincoln announces that the nation will celebrate an official Thanksgiving holiday on November 26, 1863.

When did Thanksgiving become a national holiday? ›

She finally had success when in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday on the last Thursday in November. Lincoln's proclamation urged the nation to heal its wounds and restore “peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”

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