400 years of thanksgiving
"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help besides, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, and many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty." Edward Winslow - Mourt’s Relation
No national holiday is more unifying or has done more to birth a distinctive national identity than Thanksgiving Day. Regardless of sectarian differences or political creed, Americans gather to feast as families, to celebrate around the Thanksgiving table. The debate over whether or not the Pilgrims established the first Thanksgiving celebration misses the point. They modeled for future generations the principle of days of thanksgiving and celebration, and today we right look to the Pilgrim fathers and mothers as our inspiration. Pilgrim father William Bradford, would have been pleased. He anticipated that the work these thankful and persevering people would continue for generations:
“Last and not least, they cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least of making some way towards it, for the propagation and advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in the remote parts of the world, even though they should be but stepping stones to others in the performance of so great a work.” William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation.