The event most commonly recognized as the first Thanksgiving in the United States took place in the autumn of 1621 in Plymouth Colony, which is in present-day Massachusetts. This celebration was held by the Pilgrims alongside the Wampanoag people and is often remembered as a harvest feast to thank God for a successful growing season.

Other Early Thanksgivings

• Spanish settlers held a thanksgiving Mass and communal meal with the native Seloy people in St. Augustine, Florida, on September 8, 1565.

• English settlers at Berkeley Plantation, near present-day Charles City, Virginia, observed a day of thanksgiving upon arriving on December 4, 1619, though it was more a prayerful ceremony than a feast.

Plymouth Thanksgiving Details

• The Plymouth event in 1621 lasted three days.
• It involved shared food from both groups, such as venison, corn, and shellfish, and included games and festivities.

• This particular celebration is regarded as the origin point for the modern national holiday in the United States.

Location Overview

Event| Year| Location (Present Day)
---|---|---
St. Augustine Thanksgiving| 1565| St. Augustine, Florida
Berkeley Plantation| 1619| Charles City, Virginia
Plymouth Thanksgiving| 1621| Plymouth, Massachusetts

The 1621 Plymouth celebration is the traditional answer, but earlier thanksgiving ceremonies occurred elsewhere in North America.