Every fourth Thursday in November, millions of Americans gather around tables laden with turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie to celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a day when the aroma of roasting turkey fills homes from coast to coast, when families travel hundreds or thousands of miles to be together, and when we pause—at least for a moment—to reflect on what we’re grateful for. But how did this uniquely American holiday evolve from a modest harvest celebration to the beloved tradition it is today?
The Historical Roots
The story most Americans learn begins in 1621, when Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans shared a three-day harvest feast in what is now Massachusetts. After a brutal first winter that claimed nearly half the Mayflower passengers, the surviving Pilgrims celebrated their first successful corn harvest with a feast that included waterfowl, venison, fish, lobster, clams, berries, fruit, pumpkin, and squash—though likely no turkey or cranberry sauce as we know them today.
However, the story is more complex overall. Days of Thanksgiving—religious observances of prayer and fasting—were common in both European and Native American cultures long before the 1621 celebration. Spanish colonists held a Thanksgiving Mass in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565, and English colonists in Virginia celebrated a day of Thanksgiving in 1619. The Plymouth feast itself wasn’t called “Thanksgiving” by its participants; that association came much later.
For more than two centuries, Thanksgiving celebrations remained sporadic, proclaimed by individual colonies or states during times of good fortune or deliverance from hardship. It took the efforts of magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale, who campaigned for 17 years through editorials and letters, to convince President Abraham Lincoln to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. In 1863, during the darkest days of the Civil War, Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise.” His timing was intentional—he hoped a unified celebration might help heal a fractured nation.
Why We Celebrate Today
While understanding history enriches our appreciation of Thanksgiving, the holiday has evolved far beyond its 17th-century origins. Today’s Thanksgiving celebrates something both simpler and more profound: gratitude, connection, and the recognition of life’s blessings.
Gratitude as Practice
In our fast-paced world, Thanksgiving offers a designated moment to pause and practice gratitude. Research consistently shows that cultivating gratitude improves mental health, strengthens relationships, and increases overall life satisfaction. Thanksgiving gives us permission—even obligation—to stop, reflect, and acknowledge the good in our lives. Whether we’re thankf
ul for family, health, opportunities, or simply another year navigated, the holiday reminds us to count our blessings rather than our burdens.
The Power of Gathering
Perhaps more than anything, Thanksgiving celebrates togetherness. In an era when families often live scattered across states or countries, Thanksgiving remains one of the few occasions when we prioritize gathering in person. The holiday generates the year’s busiest travel period as Americans journey home, brave airport crowds, and navigate traffic jams—all for the chance to share a meal with loved ones.
These gatherings matter deeply. The conversations around the Thanksgiving table—catching up on lives, sharing stories, introducing new partners or babies to the extended family—strengthen the bonds that sustain us throughout the year. Even the conflicts that sometimes arise (politics, anyone?) reflect the intimacy and importance of these relationships.
Tradition and Continuity
Thanksgiving also connects us across generations. The recipes passed down from grandmothers, the familiar rituals of watching football or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the specific dishes that must appear on your family’s table. These traditions create continuity in changing times. When we recreate our family’s Thanksgiving, we’re participating in something larger than ourselves, honoring those who came before while creating memories for those who follow.
Here in Oro Valley, these traditions might include a morning hike in Catalina State Park before the feast, volunteering at a local food bank, or incorporating Southwestern flavors into classic dishes. Each family’s unique customs make Thanksgiving personal, while the shared celebration makes it communal.
Community and Compassion
Modern Thanksgiving also emphasizes the importance of service and community. Food drives, charity dinners, and volunteer efforts peak around the holiday as Americans work to ensure everyone has a place at the table. This spirit of generosity—ensuring neighbors don’t go hungry and welcoming those who would otherwise be alone—reflects perhaps the most genuine meaning of Thanksgiving: recognizing our blessings by sharing them with others.
Moving Forward
Today’s Thanksgiving isn’t without complexity. Many Native Americans observe the day as one of mourning for ancestors and lost lands, reminding us that the holiday’s history isn’t universally celebratory. This awareness doesn’t diminish our personal gratitude but enriches it, encouraging us to practice Thanksgiving with humility and understanding of the fuller story.
Ultimately, Thanksgiving endures because it addresses fundamental human needs: to gather with those we love, to acknowledge life’s gifts, to share abundance, and to mark the turning seasons together. The specific foods may vary, but the family configurations change, the core impulse remains constant—to give thanks together.
So as we gather this Thanksgiving in Oro Valley, with views of the Catalinas perhaps dusted with early snow, let’s celebrate not just a historical harvest feast but the living tradition we continue to create: one of gratitude, connection, and shared humanity around tables laden with love as much as food.
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