The first Thanksgiving was a harvest celebration in 1621 by the English Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts, commemorating a successful harvest after a hard first year and the help they received from the local Native American people, especially the Wampanoag, who taught them farming and survival techniques. The event was framed as giving thanks for safety, food, and community, and it brought together Pilgrims and Native Americans for several days of feasting and fellowship.