To escape persecution and attain religious freedom, 102 Pilgrims left Europe on a small ship called the Mayflower, on 16 September 1620.
Sixty-six days later, they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod, further north than their intended destination, at the mouth of the Hudson River.
One month later, the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay, where they began establishing a village.
During the first winter, most of the passengers stayed on the ship, however, that did not save them from enduring the brutality of that winter. They suffered from exposure, scurvy, and outbreaks of contagious diseases, resulting in the death of half of the pilgrims.
When spring came, the half that survived, moved ashore. They were visited by a member of the Abenaki tribe, who greeted them in English.
Several days later, that Native American returned with Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe. Years before, Squanto had been kidnapped by the English sea captain Thomas Hunt, sold into slavery, and escaped on an exploratory expedition in 1619.
Squanto taught the pilgrims to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish from rivers, and avoid poisonous plants. He also helped the settlers ally with the local tribe, the Wampanoag.
This alliance endured more than 50 years and remains one of the sole examples of harmony between the European colonists and the Native Americans.
In November 1621, after the pilgrim's first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast. Almost one hundred Native Americans were present and the feast lasted three days.
Although there are no records of the menu Edward Winslow wrote “Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week, at which the time amongst other recreations, we exercise our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, who got three days we entertained and feasted, and they went into and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it is not always so plentiful, as it was this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”
The pilgrims held their second Thanksgiving celebration in 1623 to mark the end of a drought that had threatened the year's harvest and prompted Governor Bradford to call for a religious fast. Days of fasting and Thanksgiving on an annual or occasional basis became common practice in other New England settlements as well.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18