Plymouth’s 1621 harvest feast is often called the first Thanksgiving. But it didn’t look much like the celebrations you might be used to. For starters, it was probably held in September or October, much earlier than our Thanksgiving Day. And unlike today’s holiday, it lasted for three days.
The menu in 1621 might surprise you too. Experts think the Pilgrims and Wampanoag probably enjoyed duck or turkey. But they say that deer, fish, and eels were probably also on the menu. There were no pies!
Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863. Now it’s one of America’s biggest holidays. Check out the infographics for more about how we celebrate it.