Celebrating the Tradition of Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is a celebration of the Fall harvest and the blessings of the year. It is a national holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. The holiday is also celebrated in a number of countries around the world, although the date of the celebration varies in different places. 

There are several differing accounts of the first Thanksgiving. However, the celebration in America dates back to 1621 in the Plymouth Colony, located in present-day Massachusetts. Organized by Pilgrim leader Governor William Bradford, a feast was held to enjoy the plentiful crops harvested that year. The feast was a celebration of their survival after a difficult journey across the world.

Seeking greater freedoms, the Pilgrims had sailed from England on the Mayflower ship. They arrived in America in 1620 after a long voyage that took more than two months to complete. They battled rough seas and many challenges on their journey. After they arrived in America, the Pilgrims formed the first permanent settlement of Europeans in New England. 

When the Pilgrims landed on the Mayflower, the local Native American Wampanoags were friendly and welcoming, despite their different cultural and religious beliefs. The Wampanoags also gave the Pilgrims food during a time of scarcity, since the Pilgrims had not been able to plant crops during the winter. They also taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land and grow crops.

The Pilgrims were very thankful to the Wampanoags for helping them survive their first year in America, so they invited them to join them in the celebration and feast. This set an example of how people from various cultures can live in community and work towards common goals, even if they eventually veer. The friendship they formed helped to shape early American culture and values. 

The celebration lasted for several days and included a variety of crops, including corn, pumpkin, and berries. The meal also consisted of turkey, venison, and various types of seafood. The feast became an annual event, and on November 26, 1789, President George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving Day as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the holiday as a day of national celebration. 

Thanksgiving traditions have endured over the centuries, and people look forward to the holiday in America as a time for appreciating each other and everything they have. We hope that all of our readers will enjoy the holiday and time spent with their loved ones this year.