On November 24th, each year, the entire United States of America celebrates Thanksgiving, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, race, gender, etc. Whenever a child is born, the entire family sits down to tell the story of how the celebration of Thanksgiving began in the first place? However, in the past few decades, the Happy Thanksgiving meme and the “comic” concept behind the celebration have distorted the origination of this religious service.
Today, thanks to our proud USA researcher, we brought to you a brief on the history of Thanksgiving. For the best happy thanksgiving meme, scroll down and have fun! Let’s get started:
What is Thanksgiving?
Table of Contents
To begin with, by definition, Thanksgiving is a festive celebration that is also popularly known as a national holiday in the USA. To the reader’s surprise, Thanksgiving is not just a celebration day in the USA alone. But, many countries such as Germany, Japan, Canada, Liberia, and so on also celebrate Thanksgiving. Yet, of course, not on the same date. But why?
Well! One of the major reasons why Thanksgiving is celebrated at different dates each year in distinct countries is – Thanksgiving is indeed a celebration of “thankfulness” and harvest festival, which is not uncommon outside of America. The harvest festival is a type of festival which connects multiple religions together as its main purpose is to enjoy the season of crops and feast along with families. Henceforth, among many, Thanksgiving is also known as the Harvest festival of Thanksgiving.
As the term “thanksgiving” suggests by etymology, this festival is often considered a day to renounce what one is thankful for in his/her lifetime!
However, for many years, distinct countries have not settled their argument when it comes to the origination of this festival. Where did it all begin? Today, you will find out:
Thanksgiving day – Where did it all start?
As mentioned before, when you search over the web, you will find out multiple stories (some of which are myths) about the beginning of the celebration of the Day of Thanksgiving. Let’s find out what these are:
#1: In the USA and Canada
For centuries now, The United States of America and Canada have not drifted apart as they share the same reason for the celebration of Thanksgiving. According to history, Thanksgiving tradition kickstarted in the year 1621, when the English people, or as they are popularly known as “the pilgrims,” shared their first-ever feast with the “Wampanoag people,” or as they are popularly known as “The Indians.” However, the story of Thanksgiving does not end here.
Do you know? Back in 1621, the first-ever Thanksgiving was the longest meal ever. It went on for three days, a.k.a.72 hours. So, what’s the flashback story? Well! Here it is:
The beginning of Thanksgiving really started in 1620 on the land of Plymouth, Massachusetts. In early 1621, English men or sailors commenced sailing to Plymouth on their Mayflower. Up until then, the pilgrims did not know where they had landed. Apparently, in the previous year, 1620, the crops of Plymouth had blossomed beyond the Government’s expectations. And thus, in order to welcome the Pilgrims, the Government arranged a large feast and invited multiple of its allies.
Henceforth, the tradition of Thanksgiving began!
On the other hand, in Canada, Thanksgiving is rigidly celebrated in the month of October. In 2022, the national holiday date is October 10th, 2022 Monday.
#2: In the Bible (scroll down for happy thanksgiving meme)
When it comes to the Happy Thanksgiving meme, we all enjoy it. However, the world has parted on the lines of the beginning of Thanksgiving. But, in somewhat ways, the Bible, which is the holy book written by Jesus Christ, the lord of Christians, depicts Thanksgiving in a way that it connects the dots with the above-mentioned story. Here it is:
According to the Bible, the story of Thanksgiving really began in 1614 when Captain Thomas Hunt captured and sold people of Wampanoag nation in order to benefit from the culture of slavery. Among the capturers of Captain Thomas, Sqauto was native American. Lucky for Ssqauto, a monk paid a large sum of money to purchase Sqauto’s freedom from his master.
Monk also helped Squanto learn Spanish as he was sold in Spain. In the meantime, Sqauto also learned about Christianity during the time with the monk. However, as he was to return to his homeland (England), he was shattered by the fact that his entire tribe had ended due to the pandemic. And so, with a heavy heart, Sqauto settled with the people of Wampanoag nation in England.
Thus, it is acknowledged that on the Mayflower voyage, Sqauto also joined sailors to sail back to America.
#3: Thanksgiving origination in the Bible
The people of the new generation are becoming less and less familiar with the original concept of Thanksgiving. It has become all about feasting. But, the Bible remains multiple stories that have a single endpoint “Pilgrims and the Indians sitting together.” However, the happy Thanksgiving meme does not tell the whole story. So, here it is:
It all started in 1608 when Separatists (Britishers) landed in Holland, where they were finally free of their masters. However, in Holland as well, for Separatists, nothing was free in actuality. They had to leave their cultural values behind. For 12 years, Separatists lived in a gruesome situation where they had the bare minimum to eat. In order to improvise their situation, they sold everything they had in order to sail to America in 1620. Hence, called the pilgrims.
However, instead of sailing directly to America, Pilgrims lost their way and found themselves on a Freeland of Massachusetts. Because it was a Freeland, Pilgrims occupied it for their future. Ssqauto, who was also on the voyage, helped people learn how to grow crops, construct a government, and put down laws for the place. As a result, in 1621, there was enough crop to feed everyone.
Thus, pilgrims set with Native Americans (the Indians). And this became the “Day of Thanksgiving.”
Bonus fact: At the first Thanksgiving ever, pilgrims brought five deer to cook and feast. Whereas Native Americans brought turkey.
Thanksgiving myths: Have you heard of them?
Every family in the USA and Canada celebrates Thanksgiving. Even though the tradition mainly started among two kinds of people. Yet, it is a national holiday on which the city brightens with beautiful lights, gifts, decorations, and firecrackers. But, while having a great thanksgiving celebration, have you heard of any of the following myths from a friend, relative, colleague, or family member? If yes, drop “yes” in the comments.
#Myth 1: Thanksgiving tradition is 391 years old.
Do you know? When Pilgrims and the Indians set down for the first amazing feast together, they did not do it out of love. Instead, it was the time after when over 400 people had sacrificed in a massacre. Unlike the bible story, in 1621, when pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, it transformed into a war. Hundreds of men, women, and children already dwelling in Massachusetts had died for freedom and premises to survive.
Henceforth, the day of Thanksgiving was originally a celebration of victory that led to hundreds of people’s deaths.
#Myth 2: Pilgrims and Native Americans were celebrating
For years and years, you may have observed a happy thanksgiving meme delivering hints of friendship positive vibes. However, back in the 1600s, the story wasn’t nearly comic. The Bible talks about “Squanto,” a native American who joined pilgrims on the Mayflower Voyage to return to America. The story tells that Squanto was a native American who was well-taught by a monk how to survive? And, so, Squanto imparted wisdom to pilgrims about hunting, surviving, and other skills.
However, many native Americans died, and Squanto was left alone among the pilgrims. Thus, the big feast shared by pilgrims and native Americans is considered a myth. Because the truth is that pilgrims killed native Americans, stole their land, food supplies, clothes, and whatnot!
#Myth 3: Indians were the “impolite” ones
Today, on social media, hundreds of happy Thanksgiving meme revolve around feeds, retweets, posts, etc. But, back in the 1600s, the time wasn’t so cheerful for native Americans. For years and years, Europeans (pilgrims/English men) have been telling their stories in a way that interprets that native Americans did not know “how to live or behave?”
However, the fact states that pilgrims took advantage of native Americans in order to learn about rituals, values, skills, traditions, etc. They did not do anything back then. In simple words, they were the land invaders. In order to take the entire land for themselves, pilgrims killed hundreds of Indians.
After settling in Massachusetts, Pilgrims, for years, tried to receive acceptance by the British Government. However, it never happened. In the end, the “plymouth colony,” which they named the land they invaded, lost its right to call itself “properly governed.”
And thus, pilgrims either died in the early years of winter after the invasion. Or, later on, in 1691, when pneumonia hit, due to unhealthy conditions, most of the pilgrims’ population in the Plymouth colony died.
Happy Thanksgiving Meme: Check out the best memes of this celebratory time!
Epilogue for Happy thanksgiving meme
So, that’s the end of the story of Thanksgiving. In 2022, history had helped the world to remember the hard days when survival was “kill or die.” Thus, next time you sit down to celebrate the greatest holiday of all time, don’t forget to set the record right! Good luck.
Drop your story of your first Thanksgiving with family and beloved ones. In these cheerful times, live and share the best moments of your life with us. Thank you.
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