The first things that goes through my mind when I think of Thanksgiving is turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, the mix of flavors and the fresh autumn breeze, not forgetting the extra days to rest and be with family. But why do Americans care so much about the holiday and why are they willing to cross the country to spend it with their loved ones and to find themselves around a table set with the typical dishes of this holiday?
It all started with the arrival of the first settlers in the United States. The origin of the celebration comes from giving thanks for the harvest, and it is something that various cultures in the world also did, that is, not only in North America.
In 1620, a ship landed with more than 100 English settlers to settle in the New World. This group had strong religious convictions. The Pilgrims settled in what is now known as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Native American Indians offered to help this group of English settlers. They were taught to grow other foods, to hunt and to fish. In the fall of 1621, the English celebrated bountiful harvests of grain, barley, beans, and squash. This became known as the first ‘American Thanksgiving’.
It was not until 1941 that the celebration became official after the then president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, proclaimed the day as a holiday to remember the history of the English colonists.
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