The history of Thanksgiving day



The First American Thanksgiving is attributed to the autumnal feast held by the Pilgrims and Massasoit in 1621. The Mayflower passengers, having survived a rather challenging winter in the "New World" and having managed to harvest their surviving crops, hosted a feast which was an English tradition that signaled the end of harvest time.
The Massasoit's religion demanded that they help those who came with empty hands. The recently landed newcomers had been in such need during their first year in the territory. Additionally, the Massasoit were members of the widespread confederacy of Algonkian-speaking people known as the League of Delaware. They were also the most important and influential sachem of the Wamapanoag. It was because of the Massasoit's generosity and in hopes to negotiate a land deal that they were invited to the harvest celebration with the Separatists. The most noteworthy and historically familiar member of the Native party was Squanto, who was the only non-Separatist who had been formally educated and baptized a Christian.

The date of the feast is unknown. However, it must have occurred previously to December as that is the month that one of the only written accounts first is documented. There are only two known written eyewitness reports of the event; that of Edward Winslow and William Bradford who described the details of the fishing and hunting expeditions and the fact that the festivities lasted three days.
The Massasoit, ninety individuals in totem, provided five deer for the feast. Among some of the other edible items were duck, geese, turkey, fish, and corn. It is unlikely that the dishes presented were extravagant because the colonists weren't aware when the next ship docking would take place and would have conserved whatever spices they had.
There are many myths surrounding the modern day celebration of Thanksgiving. Although Thanksgiving as a holiday can be traced to the harvest celebration of 1621, it