Thanksgiving’s origins lie in early colonial harvest festivals and days of prayer, most notably the 1621 Plymouth feast shared by Pilgrims and Wampanoag people.
Understanding the full story of Thanksgiving requires looking beyond familiar images to appreciate the layered history behind this cherished annual tradition. It’s a fascinating study in how historical events, cultural practices, and political decisions converged to shape a national holiday.
The 1621 Plymouth Harvest Feast
The event most commonly associated with the origin of Thanksgiving occurred in the autumn of 1621 in Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts. This gathering was a harvest celebration, not initially conceived as a recurring holiday, following the Pilgrims’ first successful corn harvest.
Participants and Context
- Plymouth Colonists: The English settlers, often referred to as Pilgrims, had endured a devastating first winter, losing nearly half their population to disease and starvation. The successful harvest was a critical turning point for their survival.
- Wampanoag People: Approximately 90 members of the Wampanoag tribe, led by their sachem Massasoit, participated in the feast. Their presence was a result of a peace treaty established earlier that year with the colonists.
- Motivation: For the Pilgrims, the feast was a demonstration of gratitude for their survival and the bounty of the harvest. For the Wampanoag, it solidified a diplomatic alliance and demonstrated their strength and generosity.
Duration and Activities
The celebration lasted for three days. Primary accounts, such as Edward Winslow’s “Mourt’s Relation,” describe the colonists sending out four men on a fowling expedition, returning with enough fowl to feed the company for a week. The Wampanoag contributed five deer, showcasing a reciprocal sharing of resources.
Activities included feasting on wild fowl, venison, corn, and possibly shellfish and local vegetables. The event also served as an opportunity for diplomacy and cultural exchange, fostering a temporary period of cooperation between the two groups.
Squanto’s Pivotal Role
Tisquantum, known as Squanto, a member of the Patuxet tribe (a band of the Wampanoag confederation), played an indispensable role in the Pilgrims’ survival and the success of the 1621 harvest. Having been captured and taken to Europe, he learned English before returning to his homeland.
- Interpreter: Squanto served as a crucial interpreter between the Pilgrims and Massasoit, facilitating communication and the peace treaty.
- Agricultural Advisor: He taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate native crops, particularly corn, using local methods such as fertilizing with fish. He also guided them in identifying edible wild plants and where to fish.
- Diplomatic Facilitator: Squanto helped the Pilgrims navigate the complex political landscape with other indigenous tribes, contributing to their early stability.
Beyond Plymouth: Other Early American Thanksgivings
While the 1621 Plymouth feast is the most famous, it was not the first or only instance of thanksgiving observances in early America. Many colonial settlements held their own days of prayer and gratitude.
The 1619 Berkeley Hundred Thanksgiving
One notable earlier observance occurred on December 4, 1619, at Berkeley Hundred, a new settlement in Virginia. The arriving English settlers, under Captain John Woodlief, disembarked with specific instructions from the London Company that “the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantation in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.” This was a formal religious observance, distinct from a harvest festival.
Colonial Traditions of Thanks and Prayer
Throughout the colonies, days of thanksgiving were often proclaimed by governors or religious leaders for specific events. These could be for military victories, the end of droughts, successful harvests, or deliverance from disease. These were typically solemn religious services, often accompanied by fasting, rather than communal feasts.
| Year | Location | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1619 | Berkeley Hundred, Virginia | First recorded formal day of thanksgiving by English settlers upon arrival. |
| 1621 | Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts | Three-day harvest feast shared by Pilgrims and Wampanoag people. |
| 1623 | Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts | A day of fasting and prayer followed by thanksgiving for rain ending a drought. |
| 1777 | Continental Congress Proclamation | First national Thanksgiving proclamation during the Revolutionary War. |
How Did Thanksgiving Originate? Tracing Its Roots Through Colonial Practice
The concept of a day of thanks evolved from these disparate colonial practices, gradually shifting from spontaneous, localized events to more formalized, widespread observances. The Puritan tradition in New England, with its emphasis on days of “public thanksgiving” for divine favor, significantly influenced this evolution.
Evolution from Religious Observances
Initially, days of thanksgiving were deeply rooted in religious practice. They were often called in response to specific providential events, good or bad. A day of thanksgiving might follow a period of fasting and prayer, marking a transition from supplication to gratitude.
Regional Variations
While New England colonies frequently observed days of thanksgiving, the practice was less consistent in the middle and southern colonies. The specific reasons for calling such a day, and the manner of its observance, varied widely depending on local customs and religious denominations.
The Push for a National Holiday
For over two centuries, Thanksgiving remained primarily a regional or state-by-state holiday. The idea of a unified national day of thanks gained momentum in the mid-19th century, largely due to the efforts of one individual.
Sarah Josepha Hale’s Campaign
Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of “Godey’s Lady’s Book,” championed the cause of a national Thanksgiving holiday for nearly 40 years. Beginning in 1846, she wrote countless editorials, letters to governors, and appeals to presidents, advocating for a fixed national day of thanks.
Hale believed that a common national holiday would foster unity and patriotism across a divided nation. Her vision was for a day of domestic celebration, bringing families together, and reflecting a shared American identity.
Lincoln’s Proclamation and National Recognition
Hale’s persistence finally bore fruit during one of the most tumultuous periods in American history: the Civil War.
The 1863 Proclamation
On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring a national day of Thanksgiving. He set the date for the last Thursday in November, influenced by Hale’s advocacy and the desire to unite a war-weary nation.
Lincoln’s proclamation called upon citizens to observe the day with “heartfelt gratitude for the blessings of the year” and to “fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation.” This marked the official establishment of Thanksgiving as an annual national holiday.
Subsequent Presidential Proclamations
Following Lincoln’s lead, every subsequent president issued an annual Thanksgiving proclamation, maintaining the tradition. The date, however, was not yet fixed by law and remained at the discretion of the sitting president.
| Year | President | Date/Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | George Washington | First presidential proclamation, October 3, for “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.” |
| 1863 | Abraham Lincoln | Established Thanksgiving as an annual national holiday on the last Thursday of November. |
| 1939 | Franklin D. Roosevelt | Moved Thanksgiving to the third Thursday of November (“Franksgiving”). |
| 1941 | Franklin D. Roosevelt | Signed a joint resolution fixing Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. |
The Modern Thanksgiving Date: A Presidential Change
The date of Thanksgiving saw a brief but notable alteration in the mid-20th century, leading to its current fixed position.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Franksgiving”
In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed the date of Thanksgiving from the last Thursday in November to the third Thursday. His motivation was economic: to extend the Christmas shopping season during the Great Depression, hoping to boost retail sales and stimulate the economy.
This change, dubbed “Franksgiving,” caused considerable confusion and controversy. Some states observed the old date, while others adopted the new one, leading to two separate Thanksgiving celebrations in some years.
Congressional Act of 1941
Recognizing the disruption and public dissatisfaction, Congress acted to standardize the holiday. In December 1941, a joint resolution was passed and signed into law by President Roosevelt. This resolution officially declared Thanksgiving Day a legal public holiday, to be observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November.
Reflecting on the Complexities of Thanksgiving History
The narrative of Thanksgiving is not monolithic; it encompasses multiple perspectives and evolving meanings. While the holiday celebrates gratitude and harvest, it also intersects with the complex history of colonization and its impact on indigenous peoples.
Acknowledging the full historical context, including the Wampanoag perspective and the subsequent conflicts and displacements faced by Native American tribes, enriches our understanding of this significant American tradition. The holiday continues to be a subject of ongoing dialogue and reflection regarding its historical accuracy and contemporary relevance.