History of the First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated in the United States. People commemorate the first Thanksgiving with turkey dinners that bring together friends and family. It's traditionally a day of thankful prayer for the year's past harvest.

Plymouth Rock

In 1621, the first harvest at Plymouth Rock was completed. It was on this day Gov. William Bradford dedicated a special day of thanksgiving and prayer.

Guests

During the fall of 1621, Plymouth colonists and the local Wampanoag Indian tribe feasted together to celebrate the colonists' first successful harvest.

Massasoit

Massasoit was the Indian chief of the Wampanoag tribe. He was a special guest at the first Thanksgiving. It was his tribe that taught the colonist how to plant corn and other vegetables. He brought deer meat to the feast as a gift.

Food

Thanksgiving today is celebrated usually with turkey. But in colonial time, ducks were more plentiful and were probably the main course.

Time Frame

The first Thanksgiving was not a one-day affair. It was a week of feasting house to house throughout the colony. Only once did the local Indian tribes and the colonists eat together.

References

• Scholastic
• Funk and Wagnalls Desk Set Encyclopedia