intheunitedstates,thefourththursdayinnovemberiscalledthanksgivingday.onthisday,americansgivethanksfortheblessingstheyhaveenjoyedduringtheyear.thanksgivingisusuallyafamilyday,celebratedwithbigdinnersandhappyreunions.thefirstamericanthanksgivingwasheldinplymouth,massachusettsin1621.in17thcentury,agroupofpilgrimsleftenglandtoexplorethenewworld.itwasinseptemberof1620whentheirshipcalledthe“mayflower”leftportwith102men,women,andchildrenonboard.
theylandedinprovincetownharborafter65daysatsea.thepilgrimswerepoorlytrainedandpoorlyequippedtocopewithlifeinthewilderness.duringtheirfirstwinterinthenewland,theysufferedtremendously.poorfood,hardwork,infectiousdiseases,andbitterlycoldweatherkilledabouthalfofthem.bytheendofthisterriblefirstwinter,onlyabout50remainedalive.
onespringmorningin1621,anindianwalkedintothelittlevillageofplymouthandintroducedhimselfinafriendlyway.later,hebroughttheindianchief,massasoit,whogavegiftstothepeopleandofferedassistance.theindiansofmassasoit’stribetaughtthepilgrimshowtohunt,fish,andgrowfood.theytaughtthepilgrimstousefishforfertilizerinplantingcorn,pumpkins,andbeans.becauseofthishelpfromtheindians,thepilgrimshadagoodharvest.governorwilliambradfordwasfollowinganancienttraditionwhen,inthefallof1621,heissuedaproclamationestablishingadayofthanksgivingtogod.thegovernoralsodecidedtousethisreligiousoccasiontostrengthenthebondoffriendshipbetweenthepilgrimsandtheirindianneighbors.soheinvitedchiefmassasoitandhisbravestosharethethanksgivingfeast.theindiansgladlyacceptedandsentfivedeerahead.thepilgrimmenwenthuntingandreturnedwithturkeyandotherwildgame.thewomenofplymouthprepareddeliciousdishesfromcorn,cranberries,squashandpumpkins.