Happy Thanksgiving everyone and stay safe!
Thanksgiving is an annual holiday celebrated in the United States, originating from a harvest feast held by the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and the Native Americans in 1621. This special day has since evolved into a time when family and friends come together to share a meal and express gratitude for the blessings in their lives. The origins and significance of this holiday are not only rooted in the historical event but also in the universal values of gratitude and togetherness.
The First Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving took place in the autumn of 1621, when the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony celebrated their successful harvest with a three-day feast. The Pilgrims, having arrived in the New World a year prior, had faced numerous challenges and hardships, including a harsh winter that claimed many lives. The following spring, they received assistance from the Wampanoag tribe, led by Chief Massasoit, who taught them how to plant corn, catch fish, and hunt game. The bountiful harvest that ensued was a cause for celebration and gratitude, leading to the first Thanksgiving shared between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans.
Proclamation of Thanksgiving as a National Holiday
Although Thanksgiving celebrations occurred sporadically in the years following the first feast, it wasn't until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday