Origin of Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving is American traditional festival. It is celebrated every year on the 4th Thursday in November. It has a very interesting history. Its origin can be traced back to the 16th century when the first thanksgiving dinner is said to have taken place.

Journey of Pilgrims

Some pilgrims crossed the Atlantic in1620 by a ship called Mayflower. They traveled for nearly two months with extreme difficulty. This was because they were kept in the cargo space of the ship. No one was allowed to go on the deck due to terrible storms. The pilgrims comforted themselves by singing holy songs.

Arrival in Plymouth

The pilgrims reached Plymouth on December 11th, 1620, after a sea journey of 66 days, but nearly 46 pilgrims died due to cold winter. Fortunately,Squanto, a native Indian, taught them to survive by growing food.

First Thanksgiving Feast

It is said that Pilgrims learnt to grow corn, beans and pumpkins from the Indians, which helped all of them survive . In the autumn of 1621, they held a grand celebration where 90 people were invited including Indians. The grand feast was organized to thank god for his favors. This communal dinner is popularly known as “The first thanksgiving feast”.

Turkey and First Thanksgiving Feast

According to the first hand account written by the leader of the colony, the food included, ducks, geese, venison, fish, and berries.

Pumpkin and Thanksgiving Feast

Pumpkin pie which is popular on the festival table is unlikely to have been a part of the first thanksgiving feast. Pilgrims, however, did have boiled pumpkin. The feast continued for three days and was eaten outside due to lack of space.