The first Thanksgiving most commonly recognized in the United States took place in 1621, when the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony shared a harvest feast with the Wampanoag people in Massachusetts. This event is widely considered the origin of the modern holiday.

Early Events Called Thanksgiving

Several other "thanksgivings" occurred before 1621:

• Spanish explorers held a thanksgiving ceremony in Saint Augustine, Florida, in 1565.

• English settlers in Newfoundland held a thanksgiving service in 1578.

• Other religious ceremonies of thanks were conducted by settlers at various times in early colonial history.

The Plymouth Feast

The 1621 celebration at Plymouth involved about 53 colonists and 90 Wampanoag, featuring a meal of venison, fowl, and harvest foods, and lasted for three days. The event marked a successful harvest after a difficult year for the Pilgrims.

Recognition as a National Holiday

Thanksgiving did not become a national holiday in the United States until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day for national thanksgiving to help unify the country during the Civil War. The date was later set as the fourth Thursday in November by Congress in 1941.

In summary, the first Thanksgiving most Americans refer to is the Plymouth feast of 1621, though earlier thanksgivings occurred among other groups in North America.