Thanksgiving: A Day of Thanks? The History Behind the History

In the United States, Thanksgiving is often traced to 1619 Virginia, where colonists are said to have prompted a celebration on the anniversary of the colony’s settlement. Historic accounts show that in 1621, a feast of thanksgiving was also observed at Plymouth to acknowledge the Wampanoag Native Americans who’d helped the Pilgrims survive by providing food and seeds, and teaching them how to hunt and fish.  However, according to several modern scholars, the first official "Thanksgiving Day," held in 1637, had little to do with giving thanks for a prosperous year. It actually celebrated the massacre of 700 Native American men, women and children attending their annual Green Corn Dance at what is now Groton, Connecticut.  Read More . . .