The First Thanksgiving: From Famine To Fast To Feast

One of the biggest holidays of the year in America is Thanksgiving. In fact, Thanksgiving is the busiest time of the year for air traffic. Thanksgiving even beats Christmas for the number of families coming together. 

It might be fun to test ourselves on our knowledge of Thanksgiving. You readers outside of the United States who read this weekly article will enjoy this too. 

So here we go. What groups of people held what was considered the “first” Thanksgiving in America? In what year was the first Thanksgiving held? What weather conditions caused the Pilgrims to decide to have a day of Thanksgiving? History tells us that this Native American “saved” the early American colonists by teaching them farming and hunting techniques. Who was he?

One president called Thanksgiving a "monarchical practice" and did not issue a Thanksgiving Day proclamation during his entire eight years in office. Who was he? Records make no mention of these two traditional foods served at the first Thanksgiving. Name the foods. 

Tradition tells us that Native Americans provided this food for the first Thanksgiving. What was it? Native American pudding was served at the first Thanksgiving. What were the main ingredients in the dish? How long did the first Thanksgiving last? Find the answers at the end of this article.

Here’s a glimpse at some factual details about the first Thanksgiving. In the winter of 1620, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth with dwindling supplies and no time to store up food for the winter. That first winter, 45 of 102 pilgrims died. But the remaining Pilgrims kept building houses and making the most of their situation. 

The following spring, the Pilgrims met Chief Massasoit and 60 Wampanoag braves. At first, Governor Bradford and the pilgrims ran for their muskets, but Massasoit had come in peace, and after exchanging gifts, Massasoit and Bradford adopted a seven-point treaty. The Native Americans even taught the Pilgrims how to catch fish, use fertilizer, plant corn, and even how to make their delicacy, popcorn.   

But the late spring and early summer of 1621 proved to be difficult for both the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. Why? Because there was a severe drought. According to Governor Bradford, the Pilgrims’ and Native Americans’ gardens, planted with corn, were “withering away.”  What did the Pilgrims do? They held a time of fasting and prayer, asking God to provide rain. 

Governor Bradford writes about the rain that soon came after their prayers: "It came without either wind, or thunder, or any violence, and by degrees in that abundance, as the earth was thoroughly wet and soaked therewith. Which did so apparently revive and quicken the decayed corn and other fruits, as was wonderful to see, and made the Indians astonished to behold. Afterwards, the Lord sent them such seasonable showers, with interchange of fair warm weather, as, through His blessing, caused a fruitful and liberal harvest.” 

Governor Bradford continues, "All the summer there was no want, and besides waterfowl, there was a great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc." When a ship brought more immigrants in the fall of 1621, the Native Americans sold the Pilgrims additional food for the upcoming winter. 

The grateful Pilgrims proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving and invited their friend, Chief Massasoit, to join them. Massasoit brought 90 braves, along with additional food and supplies. The Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days. They had shooting contests, foot races, wrestling matches, and military drills. Thanksgiving to God was made for the rain, food, and for each group being thankful for one another. My wife would add, “And for popcorn!”

So, the first Thanksgiving started with a drought for Native Americans and Pilgrims alike. The Pilgrim's response was to call on God for help in this crisis. God responded to their requests, and the rest is history. What started with a potential famine turned into a fast, and the result was a feast! What a fantastic Thanksgiving for the Native Americans, the Pilgrims, and, eventually, for you and me, by the God who answers prayer. The drought problem brought both parties together, rather than drive them apart.

Author and counselor Craig Lounsbrough enlightens us on Thanksgiving. "Thanksgiving asks of our humanity what our humanity struggles to give. It asks that we shift from a selfish to a selfless attitude. It asks that we recognize that life is not something we amass, but something we should be amazed by. It is not the possession of objects, but rather the privilege of being granted ample provisions.

Thankfulness and Thanksgiving are a sure path to the kind of life that's deep, peaceful, content, and prosperous, when the path we've chosen to get us there actually takes us anywhere but there."

Whatever you have planned this Thanksgiving, take time to count your blessings and show kindness to others who need a Thanksgiving meal. Don't fall prey to slick advertising or the feeling of entitlement that makes you discontent. Enjoy what you have and what really matters in life. Thanksgiving is a great place to go back to the future, your future, maybe even the world's future. 

Here are the answers to the quiz. Pilgrims and Native Americans; 1621; drought; Squanto; Thomas Jefferson; pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce; venison (deer); cornmeal and molasses; three days.