You may have been celebrating Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving for years now, but you still might not know everything about this wonderfully food-forward holiday. You’re not alone! In fact, people all around the country may be wondering “When is Thanksgiving this year?” and “Why did the pilgrims celebrate the first Thanksgiving?” Or they’re looking up ideas for Thanksgiving quotes to share at their tables. Maybe you’re too busy for that right now. You’ve got enough on your plate booking your holiday plane tickets and tackling all the best Thanksgiving episodes of your favorite shows. Or perhaps you’re planning your Thanksgiving table decor, and trying to remember how to properly set the table. Who has time to learn about history? Let this be a source of Thanksgiving-related facts for you, all in one place. Here, we cover the pertinent facts behind the holiday, why some Americans celebrate the National Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving, and, of course, specifics about the meal’s star player: the turkey. Read on, and then prep for Thanksgiving Day knowing you’re well prepared when, say, your loveably weird uncle starts asking random questions about the holiday. We’ve got answers! The Native Americans taught the colonists how to harvest the land, and it was this act of fellowship that led to a successful harvest that next fall. To celebrate, Governor William Bradford organized the first Thanksgiving celebration. The basic Thanksgiving story (of colonialists and Native Americans feasting together in harmony) signifies a whitewashing of history. The relationship between European settlers and the Wampanoag is depicted as one of complete fellowship and respect, and that wasn’t always the case. This is why people protest the holiday each year and gather for events like National Day of Mourning, which honor the much more nuanced history of Thanksgiving, including the disrespectful treatment of our Native American ancestors. According to TIME, Canada’s Thanksgiving origins also begin with the explorer who first discovered the land, but then transitioned to a day when the people could celebrate not being American. (Rude!) They were happy to be Canadians because they avoided having to fight (and die) in the Civil War. Eventually, it became a day to celebrate a year of bountiful harvest, and they enjoy a meal similar to ours with turkey, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes.
