by Robin Fiedler
In 2009, the United States' official Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday, November 26. It's a tradition originating some 400 years ago when European settlers and American Indians had harvest celebration feasts before the beginning of winter. But how do we celebrate the American Thanksgiving holiday in the 21st Century?
Watching TV takes up almost 4 hours of the day, compared to just over 1 hour eating and drinking, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the same 2007 report, participating in sports came in second at just under 3 hours, while socializing and communicating came in third at 2.5 hours. The BLS gave a close fourth to three activities: traveling, purchasing goods and services, and religious activities, each at about 1.5 hours.
The BLS also measured the percentage of the population that participated in each, with eating and drinking at almost 100% and watching TV at 85%. Purchasing goods and services is just under 50% of the population. 
I wonder how the first pilgrims would judge the transformation of their tradition of gathering to feast on their harvest--and give thanks--to watching sports. Still more difficult, though, is determining who started the first Thanksgiving feast. Just like the battle of retailers on Black Friday, the battle of Thanksgiving history continues.
Who were the first pilgrims? Spanish or British? Where? St. Augustine or Plymouth? What was the first Thanksgiving food? Bean soup or turkey? When? Sept. 8, 1565 or Nov. 1621? It's purely superfluous to argue the details, but here are the competing versions.
St. Augustine 1565 - quoted in USA Today, Robyn Gioia, a teacher and author of America's REAL First Thanksgiving, claims the first Thanksgiving was on Sept 8, 1565 in St. Augustine when a Spanish explorer, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, "celebrated a feast of thanksgiving with Timucua Indians. They dined on bean soup."
Plymouth Plantation 1621 - William Bradford and Edward Winslow, both settlers, wrote firsthand accounts posted by Pilgrim Hall Museum. In the autumn of 1621, Winslow details,
"many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation."
Even earlier claims regarding the history of Thanksgiving feasts, noted by the Library of Congress, are
- May 1541 - "Spanish explorer, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, led 1,500 men in a thanksgiving celebration at the Palo Duro Canyon."
- June 30, 1564 - "French Huguenot colonists celebrated in solemn praise and thanksgiving in a settlement near what is now Jacksonville, Florida."
- Aug. 9, 1607 - "English settlers led by Captain George Popham joined Abnaki Indians along Maine's Kennebec River for a harvest feast and prayer meeting."
- Spring 1610 - "Colonists in Jamestown, Virginia held a thanksgiving prayer service after English supply ships arrived with food."
Each Thanksgiving story holds basically the same premise, and after centuries of American Thanksgivings, the tradition still revolves around a communal feast and giving thanks. We've just made time to include watching a little football and doing a little shopping.
References
"Primary Sources for 'The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth.'" Pilgrim Hall Museum. 18 May 2005. http://www.pilgrimhall.org/1stthnks.htm
"Spotlight on Statistics: Thanksgiving." Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nov. 2007. http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2007/thanksgiving/
"Thanksgiving Timeline 1541-2001." Library of Congress. 25 June 2009. http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/thanksgiving/timeline/1541.html
Wilson, Craig. "Florida Teacher Chips Away at Plymouth Rock Thanksgiving Myth." USA Today. 21 Nov. 2007. http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2007-11-20-first-thanksgiving_N.htm
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