The Story of Thanksgiving
By Emma DeDora
When did people start to celebrate Thanksgiving? That's a very good question! We'll be learning about that in today's book.
It all started in 1620, when a ship set off from England and arrived in America. This ship was carrying many people who were seeking a better life elsewhere.
The passengers and ship were out at sea for more than two months before it landed on November 21st!
Luckily, an English man named Captain John Smith had already discovered this land and created maps that would help guide them through their new settlement.
They called their new town, Plymouth.
The winter that followed the settlers' arrival in America was a very harsh one - there was very little food and supplies. Because of this, many settlers fell ill and were no longer able to continue their journies in Plymouth.
Before the settlers came to Plymouth, there were groups of people who already lived in America. They were friendly and used to the climate of the region.
These groups of people were called Native Americans, and they lived in many different tribes.
Spring came, and the settlers were eager and ready to start their lives on a better note than in winter. They quickly realized they would need to learn how to grow their own food.
The friendly Native Americans who lived in the same area as the settlers in Plymouth helped them begin farms. They showed the settlers how to plant seeds and take care of them so they could be successfully harvested.
The following Autumn, the first crop was harvested - corn! The settlers had finally learned how to grow and harvest their own food and the leader at the time, Governor
William Bradford, stated that the settlers, along with the Native Americans, would celebrate and give thanks with a feast!
America continued to grow and prosper, and that first Thanksgiving was never forgotten. In fact, the other settlements and colonies shared the annual tradition every year.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving be celebrated on the last Thursday of every November.
And all of this, is why we feast on Thanksgiving!