History of Thanksgiving

By: Brailynn Watson

As we all know, the only real reason we look forward to November is because of Thanksgiving. We get to eat lots of amazing and delicious food, and we get to spend time with our whole family, and we get to tell each other what we are most thankful for. But have you ever stopped and thought about how Thanksgiving all began?

“In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as America's “first Thanksgiving”—although the Pilgrims themselves may not have used the term at the time—the festival lasted for three days. Historians have suggested that many of the dishes were likely prepared using traditional Native American spices and cooking methods. Because the Pilgrims had no oven and the Mayflower’s sugar supply had dwindled by the fall of 1621, the meal did not feature pies, cakes, or other desserts, which have become a hallmark of contemporary celebrations” (History.com).

There are many places that celebrate Thanksgiving differently, but around us on November 25, we get to get together with our families and close friends, and we eat lots and lots and lots of really good food. We get to enjoy turkey, ham, stuffing, yams, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, funeral potatoes, and many others. Some families may also watch the NFL games that are happening that day as well.

Let’s talk about the different traditions from a few different places, starting off with Germany. “The German equivalent of Thanksgiving is Erntedankfest (“harvest festival of thanks”). This religious holiday often takes place on the first Sunday in October, which is often also the first Sunday following Michaelistag (Michaelmas) on September 29; different places mark the occasion on various dates in September and October. Though rural areas take the harvest festival concept more literally, churches in German cities also join in on the celebration, giving thanks for the good fortune their congregations experienced that year. During a typical Erntedankfest, celebrants may carry an Erntekrone (“harvest crown”) of grains, fruit and flowers to the church in a solemn procession, and feast on such hearty fare as die Masthühnchen (fattened-up chickens) or der Kapaun (castrated roosters)” (History.com). That all is definitely a big difference from what we eat here in the United States!

Now, how about we learn a little more about Puerto Rico. After Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States in the late 19th century, its residents enthusiastically adopted many of the traditions of the holiday. They celebrate it on the same day (fourth Thursday in November) and embrace the same Black Friday shopping craziness on the following day. But Puerto Ricans have put their own twist on the traditional Thanksgiving Day feast: There is usually turkey—whether a roasted, seasoned pavochón or a turkey stuffed with mofongo (a mashed plantain dish)—but roast pork is also a common item on the menu, accompanied with more plantains, rice and beans (History.com).

Those traditions are pretty cool, right!? It’s amazing to see how different places around the world celebrate Thanksgiving. If you want to learn about a few different places, you can click the links in the previous paragraphs. And since it is getting close to Thanksgiving, don’t forget to go around and give thanks to everyone who is in your life or who has made a difference in your life!