The First Thanksgiving
William Bradford, the primary architect of the Mayflower Compact and the second Governor of the Plymouth Colony, was the first to declare a “Day of Thanksgiving.” Thanks to Squanto (a well traveled Native American), the early settlers were able to develop a relationship with some of the nearby Native American tribes. Squanto taught the early Pilgrims how to plant corn, find fish, hunt deer, and essentially survive.
After the first winter, nearly half of the Plymouth Colonials had died. It was thanks to Squanto teaching the early settlers how to survive on North America’s land that the settlers were able to survive and eventually thrive.
Once the Pilgrims had learned some basic survival skills, Governor Bradford declared a day of Thanksgiving. He invited the nearby Wampanoag Indians (Squanto’s adopted tribe) to celebrate and give thanks to God. Chief Massasoit and ninety of his men came to celebrate with the Pilgrims. They ate turkey, fish, lobster, eel, vegetables, corn bread, and they even competed against each other in running, wrestling and shooting games. The Pilgrims and Native Americans enjoyed themselves so much they feasted together for three days…and this is how the day of Thanksgiving began.
While many people continue to celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving, very few people know the REASON that the Pilgrims set this day aside in the first place…it was to give thanks to Almighty God and acknowledge their complete dependence on Him for their existence. So as you celebrate Thanksgiving today, I hope that you will take a moment and THANK GOD for all of your blessings! And I want to THANK YOU for being a part of my life.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
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