Thanksgiving is a day for people to give thanks for their blessings. The first American Thanksgiving was held by the Pilgrims in the fall of 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Their first winter in America had been difficult, about half of the pilgrims did not survive it. The next winter, the harvest was plentiful. Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving.
There were many preparations for the feast. The Pilgrims invited their Indian friends. The Indians had taught them to hunt, fish and plant their crops. They brought with them wild turkey and venison for the feast.
There were many church services. There were sermons, prayers and music. The feast lasted for three days.
Other colonies adopted the customs of thanksgiving. And the annual feast became a tradition to many.
President Washington declared a day of Thanksgiving in 1789 during the adoption of the coinstitution. President James Madison declared a day of Thanksgiving for peace at the end of the War of 1812.
In December 1941, Congress declared the fourth Thursday in November as a national legal holiday.