In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition traces its origins to a 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. In later years, the tradition was continued by civil leaders such as Governor Bradford who planned a thanksgiving celebration and feast in 1623. While initially, the Plymouth colony did not have enough food to feed half of the 102 colonists, the Wampanoag Native Americans helped the Pilgrims by providing seeds and teaching them to fish. The practice of holding an annual harvest festival like this did not become a regular affair in New England until the late 1660s.
Today, Thanksgiving is an important part of American culture. Families and friends gather together to share a special meal and give thanks for their blessings. The traditional meal usually includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. As many Americans move towards a healthier lifestyle, some variations of Thanksgiving dinner can include meatless options such as a "Tofurkey," which is tofu shaped like a roast. Americans of different backgrounds also incorporate some of the traditional foods from their cultures into their Thanksgiving customs. While no two Thanksgiving meals are alike, one thing is for certain: Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to share with family and friends!
