| History of Thanksgiving |
 |
 |
|
Thanksgiving began in 1621, when the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a meal. It was the autumn harvest feast and it is generally accepted as the first Thanksgiving celebration. Just like in families, when a celebration or activity goes well, everyone wants to do it again and personal holiday traditions begin, the colonists and Native Americans enjoyed it so much that they repeated the celebration. Thanksgiving began! It was common among Native American groups all over the Americas to organize harvest festivals, ceremonial dances, and other celebrations of thanks for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America. The harvest meal between English colonists and Native Americans has become a symbol of cooperation and interaction. The roots of Thanksgiving are in a long tradition of celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops by Native Americans. There is another recorded ceremony of thanks. Near the Charles River in December of 1619, a group of British settlers led by Captain John Woodlief knelt in prayer and pledged "Thanksgiving" to God for their successful arrival after a long trip across the Atlantic. This ceremony has been acknowledged by some historians and writers as the official first Thanksgiving among European settlers on record. The first Thanksgiving feast is beli
The list is based on foods that were available to them at the time. All the food (including deserts) would be placed on the table at once. The best food was placed near the most important people. Most people just ate from the dishes close to them. The tradition of giving thanks over a feast, has survived for centuries as people throughout the United States gather family, friends, and enormous amounts of food for their yearly Thanksgiving meal. President Hamilton began the tradition of eating turkey at Thanksgiving and President Lincoln initiated the idea of it being a holiday. Turkey is a big part of the White House Thanksgiving traditions. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1920 and is watched by many families while beginning the dinner preparations. The Thanksgiving holiday has gradually changed over the centuries. From the first meal that probably included seafood to traditional meals served in dinning rooms to deep fried turkeys served outside on picnic tables, families give thanks across the United States the last Thursday in November. 
 
 
 
 
|
eved to have included the following:
