How did Thanksgiving originate from the early immigrants in the United States?

How did Thanksgiving come about? For Westerners, Thanksgiving is equivalent to our Chinese New Year and is an important day for family reunion. Next, let’s take a look at the origin of Thanksgiving.

How did Thanksgiving come about?

Puritan immigrants

Thanksgiving originally came from early immigrants to the United States who were called Puritans by the British. Because these Puritans were dissatisfied with the unfairness of the British Reformation and were subjected to political oppression and religious persecution by the British Church, they went to the Netherlands in order to break away from the British religion.

Aboriginal help

The Mayflower from Britain carried these Puritans, who fled the religious oppression of Britain and moved to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. However, these immigrants could not adapt to the local environment at all, and after the first winter, only 50 people survived. But with the help of the local indigenous Indians, they learned how to farm the land.

Thank you indigenous people

That autumn, the immigrants had a bumper harvest. At the end of November, in order to thank the local Indians for their generous help, the Indians were invited to share delicacies made of corn, pumpkin, turkey, etc., to thank them for their help and to thank God for the good harvest. From then on, this day became a fixed holiday in the United States - Thanksgiving.

The contradiction between subject and object

However, as more and more immigrants poured in, the conflicts between them and the Indians became increasingly serious. These former guests began to expel and kill friendly hosts, and in the end the Indians not only lost their land ownership but also lost the lives of many of their people. Therefore, this festival is also called "Thanksgiving without benefactor".

Thanksgiving Day established

As the American democratic system was established, people began to reflect, and the first governor of the United States, William Bradford, suggested establishing a holiday. It is not only to confess one's sins and express gratitude to the Indians for their kindness, but also to use this festival to strengthen the harmonious relationship between white people and Indians. From then on, the fourth Thursday of November every year is Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

Thanksgiving Events

On Thanksgiving Day, the whole United States is bustling with activity, and people go to church to pray for thanksgiving according to custom. Children also imitated the appearance of the Indians of that time by wearing bizarre costumes, painting their faces or wearing masks, and going to the streets to sing and blow trumpets. Family members who are scattered in other places will also return home to celebrate the festival. The whole family will sit together, eat delicious turkey, and say "thank you!" to their family.