For over four centuries, Americans have been celebrating the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving. A time where family and friends come together to eat, hang out, and enjoy each other’s company. But how did Thanksgiving start? How did Thanksgiving transform into a day of stuffing yourself with turkey and watching football? Let’s go back to 1621, the year of the first Thanksgiving.
The first Thanksgiving consisted of a group of Native Americans, the Wampanoag, and the pilgrims. The pilgrims were not native to the land. A year prior to the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims set sail on the Mayflower from their hometown, Plymouth, England. From there, they sailed to what is now present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts.
At Plymouth, both the pilgrims and the Wampanoags sat down and shared a meal to show a new alliance between the two. Today, Thanksgiving is like the first one, only it looks a little bit different. Thanksgiving today is about gathering with your loved ones and being reminded of why you are thankful for them.
There’s an alliance or relationship of love between you and others who share food at your Thanksgiving meal. Thanksgiving is a time of love and thankfulness.
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