The History of Thanksgiving

"Our rural ancestors, with little blest,
Patient of labour when the end was rest,
Indulged the day that housed their annual grain,
With feasts, and off'rings, and a thankful strain."
- Robert Herrick from A Thanksgiving To God, For His House

The first Thanksgiving which was an autumn harvest feast that the Pilgrims shared with the Wampanoag Indians was nothing like what we celebrate today. Many of the foods we eat were not at this feast. The Pilgrims didn't even eat with forks. They used spoons, knives, and ate with their fingers. Large cloth napkins were used to wipe their hands or pick up hot foods.

You can find out more about the first Thanksgiving, Mayflower Myths, and there is even an interview with two of the actors portraying Pilgrims from the Plimoth Plantation at this link from The History Channel:

http://www.historychannel.com/thanksgiving/?page=home

I've been to the Plimoth Plantation and it's a very interesting place to visit.
This link will take you there: http://www.plimoth.org/

Nearby is the Mayflower II which is also facinating to see.

http://www.plimoth.org/visit/what/mayflower2.asp