The History of Thanksgiving

Early Celebrations

The early celebrations of Thanksgiving in North America predate the famous 1621 feast by the Pilgrims. Gary Arndt explains that the first Thanksgiving was not the first instance of a thanksgiving feast, with earlier celebrations recorded in Virginia in 1607 and St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565 1. These events were more akin to harvest festivals rather than the Thanksgiving we know today. Arndt highlights the embellishments surrounding the Pilgrims' feast:

The first Thanksgiving probably wasn't the first Thanksgiving, as in it wasn't the first time a feast or celebration of thanksgiving occurred in North America.

--- Gary Arndt

The Pilgrims' 1621 feast was scarcely mentioned in historical accounts, indicating its lesser significance at the time 1.

   

Pilgrims and Natives

The relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe during the early Thanksgiving celebrations was complex. Gary Arndt notes that the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag were both survivors of devastating circumstances, with the latter having been severely affected by a plague 2. The alliance was strategic, as the Wampanoag chief had secured an exclusive trade deal with the English, providing leverage over other tribes. Arndt explains:

The Wampanoag were on such good terms with the English because their chief had negotiated an exclusive trade deal with them.

--- Gary Arndt

However, this relationship deteriorated over time, eventually leading to King Philip's War, a topic for future exploration 2.