We may not know as much about Thanksgiving as we think. Take the time to read about the REAL story of Thanksgiving, and maybe your whole perception will change.
The Real story of thanksgiving
The story of the first Thanksgiving is far different from the feel-good story many students hear in school. The Pilgrims traveled cold waters for weeks on the Mayflower, which was not much larger than a 50-foot boat that carried 102 people crammed into quarters. When they finished that voyage, one of the leading pilgrims, William Bradford, described stepping into a “cold, barren, desolate wilderness.”
There were no friends waiting for them, no homes, no shelter, no feast and only the sharp wind of a New England winter closing in fast. The suffering of the first winter was almost unimaginable. Nearly half of the group died from exposure, disease and starvation, including Bradford’s own wife. Survival wasn’t a day-by-day fight against the elements.
A year later, the Pilgrims reflected on their survival as they celebrated with one of the first successful harvests and created what we all know as Thanksgiving. During this time, the Pilgrims wrote about their first arrival.
The first Thanksgiving was, at its core, a religious moment—a collective expression of gratitude to God for their survival after a year marked by suffering and endurance. Now we all celebrate that same feeling of gratitude, whether for family, religion, friends or simply life in general.
The true story of Thanksgiving is not one of instant friendship or easy beginnings. It is a story of being thankful for how far we have come in life. It is a story of hardship, not giving up, resilience and a group of people who clung to one another to survive in a world that offered them nothing at first sight.
Decorating and celebrating: Thanksgiving deserves a spotlight too
Today, Thanksgiving sits in an awkward place on the calendar, wedged between Halloween’s excitement and the sparkle of Christmas. Most stores move fall decorations to the back or remove them completely as soon as October ends, replacing pumpkins with peppermint. However, the season is far from over, and one of the most meaningful holidays loses almost all meaning.
People often say there are no decorations for Thanksgiving; however, they don’t need to be elaborate to capture the spirit of the holiday. I am a strong believer you can decorate for Christmas early and still decorate for Thanksgiving, too.
The Thanksgiving colors seen in most decorations are red, yellow, orange and brown, inspired by the fall harvest and changing seasons. Whether it is little turkey decorations, fall scented candles, mini pumpkins or fall-themed centerpieces, they all create a welcoming atmosphere. Furthermore, signs of expressing gratitude, such as “Give Thanks”, emphasize the themes of celebration and create a warm atmosphere.
When we think about celebrating Thanksgiving, we think of football, a feast and a Black Friday shopping spree around the corner. What we forget is that the day reminds us to pause, be grateful and remember all that life has gifted us with. The holiday helps us slow down before the busy stretch of December and recognize the everyday gifts in our lives that we already have.
Instead of letting the holiday be overshadowed, we should over-celebrate it as the day truly allows us to reconnect and be thankful for life itself, and all it can offer, such as a roof over our heads, loved ones or even accomplishing something really hard over the past year.
It is about time we give the holiday its own attention, going beyond just the day of, as this reminds us that gratitude is worth celebrating fully, not just a passing by on the way to something else.