Thanksgiving Holiday History

America celebrates Thanksgiving every year by festive family gatherings,traditional holiday meals and offering thanks for all good fortunes.  The Thanksgiving holiday has a history that dates back to early Americansettlers.  These settlers were known as the Pilgrims and they were thefirst to have a Thanksgiving Day party.   The Pilgrims came to Americato escape religious persecution in England.  They were granted free passage on the Mayflower on September 6th, 1620 as long as they would work in exchange for the next seven years.  Unfortunately, the winter was so harsh that over half of the pilgrims didn't make it to the spring.  Less than fifty Pilgrims survived the brutal winter out of 110, but poor health improved with the good spring to come.   The local native Americans taught the pilgrims about growing crops such as corn and what plants could be used for medicinal purposes.  With The Native Americans help the Pilgrims had a good harvest in October.  The Pilgrims invited local Native Americans and settlers to all feast in thanks for there bountiful harvest.  They celebrated andfeasted for three days and this became known as the first Thanksgiving inAmerica.  

President Lincoln would later declare Thanksgiving a National Holiday to be celebrated every fourth Thursday in November in 1863.  We as Americans can all take pride and give thanks by enjoying this rich American tradition of a Thanksgiving party with all our family and friends.