The History of Thanksgiving: How a Feast Became a Favorite Fall Tradition 🦃🍂

A Thankful Tale: The Story Behind Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of the coziest and most delicious holidays of the year. Families gather around the table, share yummy food, and talk about what they’re thankful for. But have you ever wondered how Thanksgiving started? Let’s take a little trip back in time to find out where this special day came from and why it’s still so important today!

🌽 The First Thanksgiving

The story of Thanksgiving begins over 400 years ago in 1621. The Pilgrims, who came from England to find a new home in America, had just survived a very hard winter. They were helped by the Wampanoag people, who taught them how to grow corn, fish, and live off the land.

When their first harvest was ready, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag came together for a big three-day feast to celebrate and give thanks. They didn’t have pumpkin pie or mashed potatoes, but they did have roasted meats, corn, and fruits from the harvest. It was a time of sharing, friendship, and gratitude.

🦃 The Tradition Grows

For many years, different communities celebrated harvest feasts at different times. But it wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving an official national holiday. He wanted everyone to take one special day each year to give thanks and come together as a country.

Since then, Thanksgiving has been celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, filled with family, food, and fun traditions like parades, football, and volunteering to help others.

🍗 Fun Thanksgiving Facts

Did you know the first Thanksgiving probably didn’t have turkey at all? Historians believe they ate deer, duck, and seafood instead.
Pumpkin pie didn’t appear until much later, but pumpkins were definitely part of the feast.
The very first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade happened in 1924 and even featured live animals from the Central Park Zoo.

🍁 How to Celebrate with Gratitude

Thanksgiving is about more than just food. It’s about saying thank you for the big and little things in life. Here are a few fun ideas to celebrate with your family:

• Make a gratitude jar and fill it with notes about what you’re thankful for.
• Help make a family recipe and learn where it came from.
• Take a fall walk and collect colorful leaves to decorate your table.
• Share your favorite Thanksgiving memory with someone you love.

❤️ From Our Family at Jumbo’s

At Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch, Thanksgiving is one of our favorite times of year. It reminds us of the harvest season, family traditions, and the joy that comes from being together. Whether you’re baking pies, playing games, or just cozying up under a blanket, we hope your Thanksgiving is filled with love, laughter, and plenty of pumpkin pie!