The earliest Thanksgivings were celebrated by Americans who were keenly aware that their blessings—like their rights—came from God. In times of hardship unimaginable to us today, they took time to give thanks to their Creator. The event is commemorated by a national holiday in November with its origins in [[Virginia]] at Berkeley Plantation on December 4, 1619. The first Thanksgiving was a religious celebration—an occasion to thank [[God]]—that featured only a modest meal. It wasn't until two years later, in 1621, that Thanksgiving was expanded to include a banquet by the [[Pilgrims]] in [[Massachusetts]]. Thanksgiving was the first uniquely American holiday, and it exhibited the values of what would become [[American values]].<ref>Kraychik, Robert (November 28, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2019/11/28/historian-wilfred-mcclay-thanksgiving-established-fundamental-american-values-centuries-before-1776/ Historian Wilfred McClay: Thanksgiving Established Fundamental American Values Centuries Before 1776]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 28, 2019.</ref> | The earliest Thanksgivings were celebrated by Americans who were keenly aware that their blessings—like their rights—came from God. In times of hardship unimaginable to us today, they took time to give thanks to their Creator. The event is commemorated by a national holiday in November with its origins in [[Virginia]] at Berkeley Plantation on December 4, 1619. The first Thanksgiving was a religious celebration—an occasion to thank [[God]]—that featured only a modest meal. It wasn't until two years later, in 1621, that Thanksgiving was expanded to include a banquet by the [[Pilgrims]] in [[Massachusetts]]. Thanksgiving was the first uniquely American holiday, and it exhibited the values of what would become [[American values]].<ref>Kraychik, Robert (November 28, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2019/11/28/historian-wilfred-mcclay-thanksgiving-established-fundamental-american-values-centuries-before-1776/ Historian Wilfred McClay: Thanksgiving Established Fundamental American Values Centuries Before 1776]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 28, 2019.</ref> |