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Hey, I once wrote an essay for AP US History class on the origin of Thanksgiving, and since Thanksgiving is almost here, here's the essay!



On September 6, 1620, the Pilgrims of Plymouth, England left their homeland to find civil and religious liberty in the New World. The voyage to the New World was extremely difficult, as 102 people were wedged into the cargo space during frequent powerful storms, but they were fortunate, and only one died. However, they found starving and suffering in the New World, as they had not been adapted yet to the environment. Nearly half died in one winter. They persevered through religion and prayer, and were assisted by the Native Americans in reaping a bountiful harvest the following summer. In gratefulness, the Pilgrims declared a three-day feast starting on December 13, 1621, to thank God and celebrate with the Native American friends.

That is the origin of the Day of Thanksgiving that we celebrate. However, there is evidence that belies the origin of the Day of Thanksgiving. The Texans claim that the original Thanksgiving was there, in 1598, at San Elizario. They say it marked the arrival of Spanish explorer Juan de Onate, who supposedly held a big Thanksgiving festival. Of course, feasts of the harvest and praises to God have been taking place much earlier than this.
Regardly, the Pilgrim’s multicultural community event is the one our Thanksgiving Day is based on.

Almost two centuries after the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving, after the colonies had gained independence and George Washington was elected president, he proclaimed the first Thursday in November be set aside as the Day of Thanksgiving. However, this only established official Thanksgiving observances on the state level.

It was a long time before Thanksgiving became a national day. It was much to the credit of Sarah Joseph Hale, who promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day for 30 years to President after President. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln responded by setting the last Thursday of November as the national Day of Thanksgiving.

Over the next 75 years, Presidents had to re-declare a national Thanksgiving Day each year, until 1941, when Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday.

Thus, while a Thanksgiving festival has existed since 1620, the establishment of the day as a permanent national holiday is relatively recent.

And so, on Thanksgiving Day now, we gain 10 pounds eating stuffed turkey and candied yams and so many other things, and the men watch football while the women prepare for a long day of shopping. Originating from a multicultural community event, it is now centered around family.

you mean to say that the whole story behind the first thanksgiving was... <.< >.>
happy?
it was nothing of the sort D:
the pilgrims had stolen from the natives in the beginning, and during that thanksgiving day, there were barely any natives attending as most of them were suffering from European diseases