The Story Behind Thanksgiving Dinner.
The story behind Thanksgiving dinner dates back to the early 17th century, with the most commonly recognized origins tied to the Pilgrims’ first harvest feast in 1621 at Plymouth, in what is now Massachusetts.
The Pilgrims, who had recently arrived from England aboard the Mayflower, had struggled to survive in the harsh new environment. After a difficult first winter, where many perished from disease and cold, they received help from the local Wampanoag tribe, who taught them essential survival skills, such as planting crops and hunting local game.
In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag shared a feast to celebrate a successful harvest. This event, which lasted for three days, is often considered the first Thanksgiving, though it wasn’t called that at the time. The food at this gathering likely included foods native to the region, such as wild turkey, corn, squash, beans, and fish like cod and bass.
The meal was not exactly what we think of today as the typical Thanksgiving dinner, as there were no potatoes, cranberries, or pumpkin pie, which came into the tradition much later. Instead, the focus was on foods available at the time. It’s important to note that the Pilgrims’ feast wasn’t a regular tradition at that point; Thanksgiving as an official, recurring celebration wouldn’t be established until later.
The Thanksgiving dinner tradition evolved over the centuries.
Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation was issued on October 3, 1863, during the middle of the American Civil War. It was a pivotal moment in the history of Thanksgiving in the United States, transforming it from an informal regional observance to a national holiday.
The proclamation came about after years of advocacy by Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book and the author of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Hale had long campaigned for a national Thanksgiving holiday, writing to presidents and other officials for years, urging them to establish a day of national unity and gratitude. Lincoln, recognizing the need for healing and national unity amidst the devastating Civil War, finally responded to her persistent appeals.
In his proclamation, Lincoln called for a day of “Thanksgiving and Praise” to be observed on the last Thursday in November. The main purpose was to express gratitude for the blessings of the country, despite the ongoing war. Lincoln’s words were deeply reflective of the nation’s turbulent time, as he sought to unify the country in a spirit of thanksgiving for the good things that remained.
Here’s an excerpt from the Thanksgiving Proclamation:
“I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
Lincoln Sets the Precedent with his Thanksgiving Proclamation, issued on Oct. 3, 1863
Lincoln’s proclamation focused on gratitude for the nation’s prosperity and blessings, but also called for the people to ask for divine help to “heal the wounds of the nation” and seek “peace and harmony.” It was a powerful plea for national unity at a time when the country was deeply divided.
While Thanksgiving had been celebrated in various forms throughout the colonies and the early United States, Lincoln’s proclamation was the first to make it a national, official holiday. His declaration set the foundation for Thanksgiving to become an annual tradition.
n 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt shifted Thanksgiving to an earlier date in November to extend the Christmas shopping season, sparking significant controversy. However, in 1941, Congress officially established Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday of November, a date that remains the standard today.
The modern Thanksgiving feast typically features turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie—a menu influenced by both Native American and European culinary traditions. While the dishes have evolved over time, the spirit of Thanksgiving endures as a time for families to gather, express gratitude, and share a meal together.