By Daniel Vega
With the holiday season right around the corner, including the second most popular holiday, Thanksgiving, according to “The Harris Poll”, I wanted to bring you the true story of Thanksgiving. After all, the history of Thanksgiving is just as important as Thanksgiving. I’m sure that all of you know the traditional story of the first Thanksgiving. Well, just in case you don’t, I’ll explain it.
The Pilgrims set sail from England on the Mayflower in September 1620. After a long, perilous, journey they arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts. After arriving, they experienced their first winter, with more than half of the Mayflower’s living passengers dying from starvation and the cold during the winter. Those that survived built a settlement during the spring, where they met with a Native-American, Squanto, who taught them how to farm for food. In October of 1621, the first harvest in the New World came in, and all of Squanto’s agricultural teachings proved true. The Pilgrims were overjoyed and thankful. They were thankful for all of the help that they received from their Native American neighbors, and from Squanto, so they decided to invite them to have a big feast on November 1621. Ninety Native Americans arrived at the feast, while there were fifty-three Pilgrims. The Pilgrims gave thanks, broke bread with the Native-Americans, and ate. The feast lasted three days. Now that you know the traditional story, here’s what actually happened.
The Pilgrims set sail from England on the Mayflower in September 1620. After a long, perilous journey, they arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts. After arriving, they experienced their first winter, with more than half of the Mayflower’s living passengers dying from starvation and the cold during the winter. Those that survived built a settlement during the spring, where they met with a Native-American, Squanto, who taught them how to farm for food. In October of 1621, the first harvest in the New World came in, and all of Squanto’s agricultural teachings proved true. Now here is where it gets a little messy. There is absolutely zero evidence that the Pilgrims invited any Native-Americans to the first Thanksgiving, possibly because most of the Native-Americans had been killed due to diseases that the Pilgrims brought with them. The first Thanksgiving also wasn’t so that the Pilgrims could thank the Native-Americans for their help, it was to give thanks for the first harvest. Fun fact, there is also no evidence that Turkey, Pie, or any other popular Thanksgiving dessert was served, maybe because the Pilgrim’s had run out of sugar.
Well, now you know the true story of Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims set sail, arrived in the U.S., specifically Plymouth, Massachusetts because most of the Native-Americans there were wiped out with diseases. They were then taught by Squanto, and a few other Native-Americans, how to farm. They then had a feast, Thanksgiving, celebrating their first harvest. Happy Thanksgiving, and remember that the history behind Thanksgiving is just as important as Thanksgiving.