MoststoriesofThanksgivinghistorystartwiththeharvestcelebrationofthepilgrimsandtheNativeAmericansthattookplaceintheautumnof 1621. Althoughtheydidhaveathree-dayfeastincelebrationofagoodharvest, andthelocalnativesdidparticipate, this "firstthanksgiving" wasnotaholiday, simplyagathering. ThereislittleevidencethatthisfeastofthanksleddirectlytoourmodernThanksgivingDayholiday. Thanksgivingcan, however, betracedbackto 1863 whenPres. LincolnbecamethefirstpresidenttoproclaimThanksgivingDay. TheholidayhasbeenafixtureoflateNovembereversince.
However, sincemostschoolchildrenaretaughtthatthefirstThanksgivingwasheldin 1621 withthePilgrimsandIndians, letustakeacloserlookatjustwhattookplaceleadinguptothatevent, andthenwhathappenedinthecenturiesafterwardthatfinallygaveusourmodernThanksgiving.
ThePilgrimswhosailedtothiscountryaboardtheMayflowerwereoriginallymembersoftheEnglishSeparatistChurch (aPuritansect). TheyhadearlierfledtheirhomeinEnglandandsailedtoHolland (TheNetherlands) toescapereligiouspersecution. There, theyenjoyedmorereligioustolerance, buttheyeventuallybecamedisenchantedwiththeDutchwayoflife, thinkingitungodly. Seekingabetterlife, theSeparatistsnegotiatedwithaLondonstockcompanytofinanceapilgrimagetoAmerica. MostofthosemakingthetripaboardtheMayflowerwerenon-Separatists, butwerehiredtoprotectthecompany'sinterests. Onlyaboutone-thirdoftheoriginalcolonistswereSeparatists.
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