Thanksgiving is a particularly American holiday. The word evokes images of football, family reunions, roasted turkey with stuffing, pumpkin pie and, of course, the Pilgrims and Wampanoag, the acknowledged founders of the feast.
In most American households, the Thanksgiving celebration centers on cooking and sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends.
In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as “one of the first” Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies.
Thanksgiving’s Ancient Origins:
Although the American concept of Thanksgiving developed in the colonies of New England, its roots can be traced back to the other side of the Atlantic. Both the Separatists who came over on the Mayflower and the Puritans who arrived soon after brought with them a tradition of providential holidays, days of feasting and celebration to show thankfulness in times of plenty.
As an annual celebration of the harvest and its bounty, moreover, Thanksgiving falls under a category of festivals that spans cultures, continents and millennia.
In ancient times, the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans feasted and paid tribute to their gods after the fall harvest.
Thanksgiving also bears a resemblance to the ancient Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot.
Finally, historians have noted that Native Americans had a rich tradition of commemorating the fall harvest with feasting and merrymaking long before Europeans set foot on their shores.
No matter what you think of Thanksgiving, we hope you have a Great day!