Thanksgiving is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the United States, but this holiday isn’t only about turkey and family gatherings. Indigenous tribes across North America held fall harvest celebrations for generations, giving thanks for the land and the season’s crops.
Later, early European settlers arrived, bringing their own traditions of Thanksgiving—from the Spanish in Florida in 1565 to the English in Virginia in 1619, who marked important blessings or safe arrivals with days of prayer. Over time, these traditions blended together and became what Thanksgiving is today.
In the fall of 1621, the Wampanoag people, led by Chief Massasoit, joined the pilgrims of Plymouth Colony for a three-day harvest celebration. This partnership benefited both parties greatly; the Wampanoag taught the colonists how to cultivate local crops, such as corn.
Although many people think of this gathering as the first Thanksgiving, neither group called it that at the time. For the pilgrims, an actual “day of thanksgiving” meant prayer and fasting, not a feast. The meal they shared included venison, ducks, geese, fish, and corn—very different from the modern dishes made today.
For many years, several colonies and states held their own Thanksgiving practices. The first national Thanksgiving Proclamation came in 1889 from George Washington. Later, writer Sarah Josepha Hale spent decades campaigning for a national holiday; her efforts paid off when President Abraham Lincoln declared a national holiday, Thanksgiving Day, in 1863 during the Civil War.
While the celebration is often seen as a peaceful moment, it was followed by years of conflict and colonization that deeply affected Native communities. Today, some Native Americans recognize this day instead as a National Day of Mourning.
The holiday’s date shifted over time until 1941, when Congress officially set Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November.
Thanksgiving has changed greatly over time, shaped by the traditions of Native peoples, the experiences of early colonists, the efforts of influential leaders, and the evolving culture of the United States. While the holiday carries a complicated and sometimes painful history, it remains a day when many Americans come together to reflect, give thanks, and share a meal with those they care about.
