The First Thanksgiving (1621)

In 1620, a group of about 100 English people called the Pilgrims came to North America on a ship called the Mayflower. They landed in what is now Massachusetts and started a colony called Plymouth. The first winter was very hard. About half of the Pilgrims died from cold, hunger, or disease.

In the spring of 1621, the Wampanoag people, a Native American tribe, helped the Pilgrims. They taught them how to grow corn, beans, and squash. In autumn 1621, the Pilgrims had a good harvest. They invited the Wampanoag to share a three-day feast. This later became known as the first Thanksgiving.

The Evolution of Thanksgiving

After 1621, different colonies had their own thanksgiving days to celebrate good harvests or battle victories.

In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday. He said it should be celebrated every year in November.

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Families and friends gather to eat a big meal. Common foods include turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Many people watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or football (NFL) games. Around Thanksgiving, many people also take time to help others by volunteering or giving food to those in need.

It is important to note that although the story of Thanksgiving is often told as a happy meeting between Pilgrims and Native Americans, the full history includes conflict and loss for the Native Americans.

Traditional dishes are simple, warm, and full of flavor. The most common recipes include roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Here are some recipes you can try.

Casas Competencies: 5.2.1 Interpret information about U.S. history; 6.6 Demonstrate measurement skills