Thanksgiving origins

The Pilgrims, 102 souls, landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in December of 1620.
New England winters can be severe and if it weren’t for the local Indian tribe, the Wampanoag, showing the Pilgrims what to grow and how to care for the crops in the Massachusetts area there would have been no survivors of the first year. Nearly half of the Pilgrims died the first year only 53 survived through the first harvest.
Squanto, a Wampanoag, had visited England and knew how to speak English. He was instrumental in communication between the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims. The Indians met the Pilgrims shortly after they landed. The Wampanoag were native to Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
It was not uncommon to celebrate a successful harvest. In England, Harvest Home Day, was already a tradition. The Pilgrims invited Squanto and several Wampanoag to share in a harvest feast. Over 90 Indians joined the 53 Pilgrims for the first Thanksgiving.
Turkeys were on the first menu, so were geese, ducks, rabbit and venison. The Indians brought food and the Pilgrims prepared traditional harvest dishes such as cornbread, pudding and cheese pie. The meal was simple feeding nearly 150 people.
The original harvest feast of Thanksgiving lasted three days. The Wampanoag traditionally sat on furs on the ground to feast. For the Thanksgiving celebration they joined the Pilgrims at tables. The Indian women sat beside their men to enjoy equally. The Pilgrim women stood and served their men. They were allowed to eat later after the men had been served.
The tradition of Thanksgiving was carried on following the first successful harvest. Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving an official holiday in 1863.
A tradition that has come down through many Thanksgivings is for participants to state what they are thankful for in the previous year. Just two more days to make a list of thankfulness.