How Did Thanksgiving Get Started?

The year was 1621 and the Pilgrims decided that it was time for a banquet.

Seeking religious freedom, this group of American settlers arrived on their ship, the Mayflower, and set up a colony at Plymouth, Massachusetts. However, the past winter had been a terrible one, resulting in the deaths of almost half of their number. They had survived, though, largely through the help of friendly nearby American Indians (now known as Native Americans).

Therefore, after the first harvest, Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and prayer to God. Together with about 90 Wampanoag Indians, they held their banquet outdoors and feasted on a cornucopia of food, including corn, geese, turkey, ducks, eel, clams, leeks, plums, cod, bass, barley and corn bread. The whole event last three days.

In 1623, another day of thanksgiving was called after rains ended a bad drought. Later proclaiming November 29 as a day of thanksgiving, Governor Bradford said," Listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings."

In 1789, American President George Washington proclaimed National Thanksgiving Day for the last Thursday in November. In 1941, this was officially changed to the fourth Thursday of November.