The first recorded Thanksgiving took place in autumn 1621 when 50 Plymouth colonists and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans gathered for a historic three-day harvest celebration, marking the Pilgrims' first successful corn harvest in the New World.
The origin of America's beloved Thanksgiving tradition dates back to the autumn of 1621 when the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans gathered for a historic three-day harvest celebration. This legendary feast marked the Pilgrims' first successful corn harvest in the New World and became known as the "First Thanksgiving."
While many Americans associate this 1621 celebration with the birth of the national holiday, the story of Thanksgiving's origins is more complex than commonly believed. Various harvest celebrations and days of thanksgiving were observed throughout colonial America before it became the unified national holiday we know today. The feast between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people set the foundation for what would eventually become one of America's most cherished traditions, combining elements of gratitude, community and shared abundance.
The First Recorded Thanksgiving in 1621
#The historic first Thanksgiving brought together 50 Plymouth colonists and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans in a three-day autumn celebration. This gathering marked a pivotal moment in American colonial history, establishing traditions that persist in modern Thanksgiving celebrations.
The Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony
#The Plymouth colonists arrived aboard the Mayflower in 1620, establishing their settlement after a harsh winter. The surviving group consisted of religious separatists seeking freedom from the Church of England alongside other colonists seeking economic opportunities. After losing 45 of their original 102 passengers during the first winter, the colonists formed an alliance with the Wampanoag people, led by Chief Massasoit. Squanto, a Patuxet Native American, taught the colonists essential agricultural techniques for growing corn, extracting sap from maple trees, catching fish, and identifying poisonous plants.
The Three-Day Harvest Celebration
#The harvest celebration took place in late September or early October 1621, featuring:
- Food Offerings: Venison, wild fowl, lobster, clams, bass, corn, squash, beans
- Activities: Military drills, competitions, diplomatic discussions
- Participants: 50 English colonists including Governor William Bradford and 90 Native Americans including Chief Massasoit
| Celebration Details | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 days |
| English Colonists | 50 people |
| Native Americans | 90 people |
| Types of Food | 7+ varieties |
The feast differed from modern Thanksgiving meals, excluding common dishes like:
- Cranberry sauce
- Pumpkin pie
- Mashed potatoes
- Turkey as the centerpiece
The gathering focused on diplomacy, survival, and mutual cooperation between the colonists and Wampanoag people rather than the religious observance associated with later Thanksgiving celebrations.
Earlier Thanksgiving Celebrations in America
#Thanksgiving celebrations in America predate the Plymouth feast of 1621. Historical records reveal multiple harvest festivals and thanksgiving events across different colonial settlements.
Spanish and French Claims
#Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilé held a thanksgiving mass in St. Augustine, Florida, on September 8, 1565. The celebration included a feast shared between Spanish settlers and Timucua Native Americans, featuring traditional Spanish dishes and local seafood. French Huguenot colonists in Jacksonville, Florida, organized their own thanksgiving celebration in June 1564, marking the first documented Protestant thanksgiving service in North America.
Virginia's Berkeley Plantation Event
#Berkeley Plantation in Virginia hosted a thanksgiving ceremony on December 4, 1619, two years before the Plymouth celebration. The 38 English settlers who arrived at Berkeley Hundred established a requirement in their charter that the day of arrival be commemorated annually as a day of thanksgiving. The celebration focused on prayer and religious observance rather than feasting, distinguishing it from later thanksgiving traditions.
| Early Thanksgiving Events | Location | Date | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Celebration | St. Augustine, FL | Sept. 8, 1565 | Spanish settlers & Timucua |
| French Huguenot Event | Jacksonville, FL | June 1564 | French colonists |
| Berkeley Plantation | Charles City, VA | Dec. 4, 1619 | 38 English settlers |
Key Participants in the First Thanksgiving
#The first Thanksgiving celebration brought together two distinct groups who played crucial roles in establishing this historic event: the Wampanoag Native Americans and the Plymouth colonists.
Native American Contributions
#The Wampanoag people contributed essential knowledge and resources to the first Thanksgiving celebration. Chief Massasoit arrived with 90 tribal members, bringing five deer as gifts for the feast. Squanto, a Patuxet Native American, served as the primary interpreter and cultural bridge between the two communities. The Wampanoag taught the colonists several agricultural techniques:
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Planting corn using fish as fertilizer
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Identifying edible wild plants in the region
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Harvesting maple sap for sweeteners
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Tracking local wildlife for hunting
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Utilizing native herbs for medicinal purposes
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Hunting wild fowl for the feast
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Preparing cultivated crops from their harvests
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Organizing military demonstrations
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Providing English vegetables from their gardens
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Arranging diplomatic discussions with Wampanoag leaders
| Group | Number of Participants | Primary Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Wampanoag | 90 | Venison, hunting skills, agricultural knowledge |
| Plymouth Colonists | 50 | Wild fowl, crops, event organization |
Traditional Foods at the First Thanksgiving
#Archaeological evidence and historical accounts document the diverse foods served at the 1621 feast, revealing significant differences from modern Thanksgiving menus.
What Was Actually Served
#The first Thanksgiving featured locally sourced proteins including venison, waterfowl, fish, lobster, clams, eels, and seal meat. Native American hunters contributed five deer as gifts, while colonists gathered wild fowl such as ducks, geese, and passenger pigeons. The feast incorporated seasonal vegetables like pumpkins, squash, carrots, onions, garlic, beans, and corn prepared as porridge. Fruits present at the celebration included plums, grapes, and dried berries native to New England.
| Food Category | Examples from First Thanksgiving |
|---|---|
| Proteins | Venison, waterfowl, fish, lobster, clams, eels, seal |
| Vegetables | Pumpkins, squash, carrots, onions, garlic, beans, corn |
| Fruits | Plums, grapes, dried berries |
| Grains | Corn porridge |
Modern Misconceptions
#Common assumptions about the first Thanksgiving menu contradict historical records. Turkey wasn't the centerpiece protein - venison dominated the feast. The meal lacked classic dishes like cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, or pumpkin pie due to limited ingredients. Sugar supplies had depleted by autumn 1621, preventing sweet desserts. The colonists didn't possess ovens for baking, and potatoes hadn't yet been introduced to North America. The three-day feast focused on readily available seasonal ingredients rather than the elaborate dishes associated with contemporary celebrations.
| Modern Dish | Reason for Absence |
|---|---|
| Cranberry Sauce | No sugar available |
| Pumpkin Pie | No ovens or sugar |
| Mashed Potatoes | Potatoes not yet in North America |
| Sweet Potato Casserole | Sweet potatoes not available |
| Turkey as Main Dish | Venison was primary protein |
How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday
#Thanksgiving's transformation into a national holiday emerged through a 36-year campaign led by Sarah Josepha Hale followed by President Abraham Lincoln's historic proclamation in 1863. The journey from regional celebration to federal holiday exemplifies the power of persistent advocacy combined with political leadership during a pivotal moment in American history.
Sarah Josepha Hale's Campaign
#Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey's Lady's Book magazine, launched her campaign for a national Thanksgiving holiday in 1827. She published numerous editorials advocating for a unified celebration date across all states, wrote letters to five presidents, and featured Thanksgiving recipes, traditions, and stories in her magazine. Hale's influence reached millions of American readers through her publication, which maintained a circulation of 150,000 subscribers by 1860. Her persistent lobbying efforts spanned presidencies from Zachary Taylor to Abraham Lincoln, earning her the nickname "Mother of Thanksgiving."
President Lincoln's Proclamation
#President Abraham Lincoln issued Proclamation 118 on October 3, 1863, establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday. The proclamation set the last Thursday of November as the official celebration date, unifying various state observances into one federal holiday. Secretary of State William Seward drafted the document during the Civil War, positioning Thanksgiving as a means to heal national divisions. The proclamation emphasized gratitude for American blessings amid national challenges:
| Key Elements of Lincoln's Proclamation |
|---|
| Date: October 3, 1863 |
| Designated Day: Last Thursday of November |
| First National Celebration: November 26, 1863 |
| Document Number: Proclamation 118 |
This federal recognition transformed Thanksgiving from a series of scattered regional observances into a unified American tradition celebrated annually across the nation.
Key Takeaways
#- The first recorded Thanksgiving was celebrated in autumn 1621 by 50 Plymouth colonists and 90 Wampanoag Native Americans during a three-day harvest celebration.
- Earlier thanksgiving celebrations occurred in America before 1621, including Spanish settlers in Florida (1565) and at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia (1619).
- The original feast was quite different from modern Thanksgiving, featuring venison, wild fowl, and seafood instead of turkey, and lacking traditional dishes like cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
- The Wampanoag people played a crucial role by teaching colonists essential agricultural techniques and contributing five deer to the feast.
- Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln issued Proclamation 118, following a 36-year campaign by Sarah Josepha Hale.
Conclusion
#The first Thanksgiving celebration stands as a pivotal moment in American history that's evolved into one of the nation's most cherished traditions. While the 1621 Plymouth feast is commonly recognized as the first Thanksgiving it's just one part of a rich tapestry of early colonial celebrations across America.
From its humble beginnings as a harvest celebration the holiday has transformed into a national symbol of gratitude unity and shared heritage. Today's Thanksgiving may look different from that first celebration but its core values of community cooperation and thankfulness continue to resonate with Americans across generations.
The journey from a colonial harvest feast to a federally recognized holiday reflects the growth and transformation of America itself demonstrating how traditions can adapt while maintaining their fundamental significance.