(Grab some cider and buckle up—this one’s a wild ride through history, faith, and feasting!)
Chapter 1: The Almost-Disaster That Started It All (1620–1621)
Picture this: It’s 1620. A rickety ship called the Mayflower is bobbing like a cork in the Atlantic, carrying 102 passengers who are, let’s be honest, completely out of their depth. Half of them are religious separatists (soon to be called Pilgrims) fleeing persecution. The other half? Adventurers, indentured servants, and a couple of kids who probably just wanted to see what America looked like.
They were aiming for Virginia. They landed in Massachusetts instead. In November. With winter coming like an angry landlord.
Half of them died the first winter. HALF. Frostbite, scurvy, and sadness were not great roommates.
But spring came, and so did two absolute legends:
- Squanto – a Patuxet man who spoke English (long story involving kidnapping by Europeans, escape, and a dramatic homecoming).
- Wampanoag chief Massasoit – who decided, “You know what? Let’s not wipe these weird hat-wearing people out yet.”
Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn with fish fertilizer (gross but effective), how to catch eels (step on them—yes really), and which berries wouldn’t kill you. By fall 1621, the 53 surviving Pilgrims had a legit harvest. So they threw a party.
A THREE-DAY rager with 90 Wampanoag guests. They ate deer, lobster, corn, wild turkey, and probably some very questionable early pumpkin pie attempts.
That, friends, was the first Thanksgiving. No football, no Black Friday—just gratitude that they weren’t, you know, dead.
Chapter 2: The Holiday That Refused to Stay Put
For the next 200 years, Thanksgiving was basically “that one time we didn’t starve.” Different colonies celebrated (or didn’t) on random days whenever the governor felt thankful.
Then came Sarah Josepha Hale—the original Thanksgiving stan.
This woman was the Beyoncé of 19th-century magazine editors. For 17 years she wrote letters to presidents begging them to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. Taylor? Ignored her. Fillmore? Ghosted. Pierce? Crickets.
Finally, in 1863—in the middle of the Civil War—Abraham Lincoln said, “You know what this torn country needs? A day to give thanks together.” Boom. Thanksgiving became official, set for the last Thursday in November.
FDR tried to move it up a week in 1939 to lengthen the Christmas shopping season (retail never sleeps). America lost its mind. It was called “Franksgiving.” Congress had to pass a law in 1941 locking it at the fourth Thursday of November forever.
And here we are.
Chapter 3: What Thanksgiving Actually Means (Beyond the Food Coma)
Thanksgiving isn’t just “eat until your pants surrender.” At its core, it’s a declaration:
“We were in trouble. God (or life, or kindness of strangers) brought us through. Let’s celebrate that.”
The Pilgrims were deeply shaped by Bible verses about gratitude. Here are some of the most beautiful ones they would’ve known by heart:
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
— Psalm 118:1 ✝️“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
— Psalm 100:4 ✨“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (Even when the Wi-Fi is slow and Aunt Karen starts political talks.)“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
— Colossians 3:17 ❤️
Chapter 4: Modern Thanksgiving – Chaos, Love, and Pie
Today Thanksgiving looks like:
- Parade balloons that sometimes escape and terrorize New Jersey
- Detroit Lions fans questioning their life choices
- Someone deep-frying a turkey and accidentally becoming a viral video
- Grandmas texting “🦃❤️” in the family group chat
- And millions of people pausing—just for a second—to say thank you.
Final Feels: Why This Holiday Still Slaps in 2025
Thanksgiving reminds us that life is messy. Ships get off course. Winters are brutal. People help strangers. Tables get loud and beautiful. And somehow, every year, we get another chance to look around and say, “Wow. Still here. Still blessed. Pass the gravy.”
So whether you’re with 50 relatives or having a “Friendsgiving” with your chaotic chosen family, light a candle, read a Psalm out loud, and eat that second piece of pie like it’s a spiritual discipline.
Happy Thanksgiving, you beautiful legends. May your heart be full, your pants have stretchy waistbands, and your team win (unless they’re playing mine).
Now go share this with everyone—because gratitude is contagious. 🦃🍁🎉
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is GOOD! 🙌❤️
