Thanksgiving is one of the most beloved holidays in the United States, widely celebrated with family gatherings, feasts, and expressions of gratitude. For many, it is a day to pause and reflect on the blessings of the past year, with an emphasis on family, community, and harvest. However, the roots of Thanksgiving are deeply tied to the country’s colonial history, its relationship with Indigenous peoples, and the evolution of national traditions.
In this article, we will explore why we started celebrating Thanksgiving, examining the history of the holiday from its origins to its transformation into the modern celebration that we know today. Understanding the historical context behind Thanksgiving can help shed light on the complex nature of the holiday and its significance to different communities across the United States.
The Origins of Thanksgiving: The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag
The commonly accepted narrative surrounding Thanksgiving centers on the Pilgrims, a group of English settlers who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, and their so-called “feast” with the Wampanoag people in the fall of 1621. However, this narrative has been simplified over time, often leaving out crucial details and perspectives, especially those of the Indigenous peoples involved.
The Pilgrims’ Journey to America
The Pilgrims were a group of English Separatists who sought to escape religious persecution in England. They initially settled in the Netherlands but decided to seek a new life in America to preserve their religious practices and culture. In September 1620, they embarked on a long voyage aboard the Mayflower, which eventually carried them to the shores of what would become Plymouth, Massachusetts.
After a treacherous journey across the Atlantic, the Pilgrims arrived in the New World in December 1620. The harsh winter took a heavy toll on the settlers, and by the following spring, only half of the original 102 passengers survived. It was clear that without assistance, the Pilgrims would not survive in this new and unfamiliar environment.
The Wampanoag and the First Thanksgiving
The Wampanoag people, who had lived in the area for thousands of years, played a critical role in the Pilgrims’ survival. In the spring of 1621, the Pilgrims encountered the Wampanoag and formed a mutually beneficial alliance. The Wampanoag, led by Chief Massasoit, provided the settlers with food, agricultural knowledge, and hunting assistance, helping them learn how to grow corn, hunt for game, and fish in the region.
In return, the Pilgrims shared their English traditions and provided gifts to the Wampanoag, marking the beginning of an important relationship. The 1621 feast, often cited as the “First Thanksgiving,” was a celebration of the successful harvest, as well as a time to express mutual appreciation for one another. Historical accounts suggest that the feast lasted for several days and was attended by approximately 50 Pilgrims and around 90 Wampanoag people.
While the exact details of the feast remain unclear, it is generally believed that the foods shared at the gathering included venison, fowl (such as wild turkey and ducks), fish, corn, beans, squash, berries, and other vegetables. Importantly, the event was not the formal, one-day affair that we associate with modern Thanksgiving, but rather a communal gathering focused on shared sustenance and goodwill.
Thanksgiving in the Early Years: A Regional Celebration
The 1621 feast is often cited as the origin of Thanksgiving, but it would be several centuries before Thanksgiving became an official, nationally recognized holiday. After the Plymouth feast, there was no annual tradition of Thanksgiving in the colonies. However, the practice of celebrating days of thanksgiving—primarily as a way to give thanks for successful harvests or military victories—was widespread among the early European settlers.
Early Days of Thanksgiving in Colonial America
Throughout the 17th century, various colonies observed days of thanksgiving. These were typically declared by colonial governors or local religious leaders in response to good harvests, military victories, or other perceived blessings. The days of thanksgiving varied widely from colony to colony, and there was no consistent, nationwide observance.
In 1637, a day of thanksgiving was proclaimed in Massachusetts to mark the victory over the Pequot tribe in what is known as the Pequot War. This event, and others like it, began to shape the complex and often tragic relationship between European settlers and Native American communities.
Throughout the 18th century, Thanksgiving celebrations continued to be local and sporadic events. The holiday was observed primarily in New England, where settlers maintained strong Puritan traditions. Thanksgiving services were often religious in nature, with communities gathering to give thanks for bountiful harvests, good health, or other blessings.
The Influence of Sarah Josepha Hale and the Push for a National Holiday
The formalization of Thanksgiving as a national holiday came in large part due to the tireless efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer and editor who is best known for writing the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Hale believed that a national Thanksgiving Day would help unify the country, particularly during the divisive period of the Civil War.
Sarah Josepha Hale’s Advocacy for Thanksgiving
Sarah Hale began advocating for a national Thanksgiving holiday in the 1820s, publishing editorials in her influential magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book. She believed that a national holiday would be an important means of fostering unity and goodwill in a country that was becoming increasingly fractured by regional tensions and cultural divisions.
For over 30 years, Hale lobbied presidents, governors, and other officials to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. Her campaign was not immediately successful, but she persisted in her efforts, writing letters to several U.S. presidents and urging them to establish a national day of Thanksgiving.
Abraham Lincoln and the Establishment of Thanksgiving as a National Holiday
In 1863, amidst the tumult of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln responded to Hale’s repeated petitions. In an effort to bring the nation together during one of its most challenging times, Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday. In his proclamation, Lincoln called for a day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens,” and urged Americans to give thanks for the blessings they had, even in the face of war and suffering.
Lincoln’s decision to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday was both symbolic and practical. At a time when the United States was deeply divided, the holiday offered an opportunity for citizens to pause and reflect on their shared identity, even as the Civil War raged on. The first national Thanksgiving Day under Lincoln’s proclamation took place on the last Thursday in November 1863.
The Evolution of Thanksgiving into a Modern Holiday
After Lincoln’s proclamation, Thanksgiving became an official holiday, but its celebration was still somewhat inconsistent across the United States. While some states and regions continued to observe the holiday, it took several decades before Thanksgiving became a widespread, uniform celebration.
Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Move to the Fourth Thursday in November
In 1939, during the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a controversial decision to move Thanksgiving from its traditional last Thursday of November to the third Thursday. The goal was to extend the holiday shopping season and boost the economy by giving businesses more time to profit from Christmas sales.
The change sparked controversy, with many people arguing that it violated the long-established tradition. In 1941, after years of public debate, Congress passed a law officially designating the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day. The law was signed into effect by President Roosevelt, and Thanksgiving has been observed on this date ever since.
Thanksgiving as a Day of Commercialization and National Unity
Over time, Thanksgiving evolved into a holiday not only for giving thanks but also for socializing and consuming. The holiday is now widely associated with feasts, parades, football games, and the start of the holiday shopping season. Many of the traditional foods associated with Thanksgiving—such as turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie—have become a central part of the American holiday experience.
Thanksgiving parades, particularly the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, have become major spectacles, drawing thousands of spectators and millions of viewers nationwide. The holiday is also known for the kickoff of Black Friday sales, which marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. These commercial aspects of Thanksgiving, while a departure from the holiday’s more solemn and reflective origins, have come to define the modern celebration of Thanksgiving for many Americans.
The Complex Legacy of Thanksgiving
While Thanksgiving is widely celebrated, it is important to acknowledge that the holiday has a complex and often painful legacy, especially for Native American communities. The relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, while initially one of cooperation, quickly deteriorated, leading to violence, displacement, and the loss of Indigenous lands.
For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a time of mourning rather than celebration. Native communities recognize the holiday as a reminder of the colonization and the lasting impact of European expansion on Indigenous cultures, lives, and land. As a result, some Indigenous people observe the day as a National Day of Mourning, using the occasion to raise awareness about the ongoing struggles faced by Native communities.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to recognize Indigenous peoples and their contributions to American society during Thanksgiving. Some communities have embraced the opportunity to educate the public about Native American history and culture, offering a more inclusive perspective on the holiday.
Conclusion: The Meaning of Thanksgiving Today
Thanksgiving, as we know it today, is the result of centuries of history, cultural evolution, and change. From the Pilgrims’ early days in the New World to Abraham Lincoln’s call for national unity during the Civil War, to Sarah Josepha Hale’s advocacy for a national holiday, Thanksgiving has transformed into a day of reflection, gratitude, and community.
However, it is also important to recognize the complexity of the holiday’s legacy, particularly the experiences of Indigenous peoples and their ongoing struggles. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, it is essential to approach the day with an awareness of its historical context and its impact on diverse communities across the United States. In doing so, we can honor the spirit of gratitude and inclusivity that Thanksgiving can and should represent, while acknowledging the lessons of history that continue to shape our collective understanding of the holiday.
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