The pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts are the iconic inspiration for the modern Thanksgiving Day feast. When the winter of 1620 wiped out close to half their colony they formed a relationship with the native Wampanoag Tribe, who taught them about fishing, hunting, and planting. By the beginning of the following fall, the colonists had collected enough food to feed their entire community for the whole winter. Members of the tribe who had taught them how, joined them in a 3-day feast to celebrate their bounty. This event is now thought of as the first Thanksgiving meal.
Later generations of colonists considered Thanksgiving a religious holiday originating from the Puritan days of fasting, praying, and giving thanks to God. The actual timing of early Thanksgiving celebrations varied from colony to colony until 1777 when a group of them got together and agreed to celebrate it on the same day. It wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be Thanksgiving Day –a national holiday.
By the middle of the 20th century a variety of related traditions emerged –from the Thanksgiving Day football games to the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade. The latter event quickly turned this day of reverence into a “kick-off” for the holiday shopping season.
Whether you view Thanksgiving as a religious celebration, a pagan tribute to the bounty of Mother Nature, or the official ringing in of the holiday season, the celebration of Thanksgiving gives us a rare opportunity to take a collective time out –to reconnect with loved ones and remember just how much we have to be thankful for. The joy we feel during this time of sharing and connection is a powerful reminder of the importance of practicing its hallmarks –gratitude and giving– all year.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
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