The First Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving Day holiday has historic roots dating back to the settlement of the Pilgrims in America. The first winter the Pilgrims spent in America was especially harsh. There were 110 crew members and Pilgrims who left England for the New World but fewer than 50 survived that first winter. On March 16, 1621 the Pilgrims met an Indian named Samoset who spoke some English, much to their surprise. Soon afterward a second Indian named Squanto, who spoke better English than Samoset, met the Pilgrims. Squanto had been to Spain and England where he learned English. Squanto taught the Pilgrims valuable things like how to raise crops and how to tap maple trees. His help had great impact and may have enabled the survival of the Pilgrims.

Following a successful harvest, a day of thanksgiving was proclaimed by Pilgrim Governor William Bradford. Squanto and other Indians were invited to a celebration we now look back on as the first Thanksgiving.


Source

1. The Pilgrims and America's First Thanksgiving; http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/pilgrims.htm