The History of Thanksgiving

An artistic rendering of the historic "First Thanksgiving" between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans.
Photo Courtesy of history.com

Set out your cornucopia and sharpen the knives, because it’s time once more to celebrate the pilgrimage of the first European settlers unto this nation. Of course, I am talking about Thanksgiving.

    Thanksgiving is a time during which families gather together to share a meal and share blessings for which they are thankful for in celebration of the very first time European settlers and Native Americans did the same thing for the first time 395 years ago. Yet even today, there are some that find controversy with the holiday and exactly how it is celebrated, as some with Native American heritage see it as a reminder of the repression of their people. Truly, Thanksgiving is a holiday with a rich and interesting backstory, especially considering it’s one holiday that is exclusive to America.

    According to an article on the history of Thanksgiving on history.com, the origins of Thanksgiving date to before the first feast was even conceived. In 1620, aboard the famous ship Mayflower, 102 religious separatists sought the freedom to worship in the new world, and after an unpleasant two-month long journey, landed near Cape Cod. After another month, the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay and began to build the settlement known as Plymouth. However, only about half of the original crew survived through the winter to see Spring in the New World, at which time the remaining settlers moved ashore. It was here that the pilgrims, as they are now known, met two Native Americans: a member of the Abenaki tribe who spoke English, and Squanto, who had escaped slavery in Europe and returned to his homeland. It was Squanto who is famous for teaching the settlers how to fish, avoid poisonous plants, cultivate corn and extract tree sap.

    The following November of 1621, Governor William Bradford organized a feast and invited Native American allies in celebration of a successful harvest. It was not until 1863 that Abraham Lincoln designated Thanksgiving as a national holiday for the final Thursday in November. This was during the height of the Civil War, and Lincoln proclaimed that all Americans ask God to, “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.”

    Still, some today find controversy with the holiday and how it is seen in the eyes of the American people. Some with strong Native American heritage find that the way the history of Thanksgiving is taught in schools is not fully representative of the true nature of the relationship between Native Americans and the settlers.

    Let’s not mince words or dodge the subject: the colonization of this land by our forefathers was nothing short of a brutal massacre that resulted in the deaths of millions and the destruction and diminishing of homes for several more. It is in this manner that many see Thanksgiving as a reminder of how the Europeans invaded and forcibly seized control of what they considered not just their land, but Mother Earth. To this end, since the 70s, groups of protesters in various parts of the country recognize a National Day of Mourning, especially near Plymouth Rock.

    In the end, Thanksgiving has a fascinating, albeit somewhat macabre, history which deserves recognition by all. While Thanksgiving has a downtrodden connotation to some, it is still a time to come together with loved ones and share in a piece of history as well as a piece of pie.