Thanksgiving: Do We Love It or Do We Hate It?
November 27, 2023
Writer: Kendall Ferguson
Editor: Chava Makman
Thanksgiving is a holiday exclusive to the United States. It is a time for food, family, friends, and maybe even some dinner table drama. It is one of my favorite gatherings of the year, but not everyone shares this belief. Many of us view Thanksgiving as an occasion to relax from the stresses of school and work, stuff our faces with mashed potatoes, and share awkward glances with our siblings while our weird uncle brings up politics.
It is very easy to get lost in the whirlwind of Thanksgiving festivities, so much so that the origins of the coveted holiday are commonly forgotten. Much to our elementary school teachers' chagrin, the first Thanksgiving wasn’t as “Kumbaya” as taught. The very first Thanksgiving feast had wholesome beginnings, with over 100 natives and colonists in attendance. The celebration lasted three days, and the traditions of each group were kindly considered. The settlers sat at a table as they would do at home, while the Natives sat on the ground as they do within their tribe. This moment of peace and hospitality would soon change.
Massasoit, a Wampanoag leader, originally negotiated a treaty with the Plymouth settlers. The agreement was a truce - pledging to leave weapons at home during trading. After the signing, the two factions remained allies for almost ten years. However, after the passing of Massaoit in 1661, his son, Wamsutta, took over. Tensions started to rise when more colonizers arrived, and a plague took out more than half the Native population.
Additionally, during a visit to the Puritans in 1662, Wamsutta mysteriously disappeared. The next in line, Metacomet, only added to the already simmering situation. After fearing the Natives would lose more land to the growing settler population, Metacomet organized a coalition of various Native tribes to help protect themselves and their resources. By the fall of 1675, the coalition and settlers came to blows. The Narragansett tribe tried to remain neutral throughout the conflict. Although while concealing Wampanoag refugees running from the crossfire. The Puritans attacked the Narragansett fortress, killing up to 600 Natives.
The war between the two opposing forces only grew more gruesome, with the King Philip War adding fuel to the fire. The Native tribes and English colonies were both severely impacted by the conflicts having villages destroyed, resources rooted, and group members abducted. Although this may seem like an issue of the past, the Native people of our country have never fully recovered from the fallout. The Native population was all but diminished while the settlers thrived and built the societies we know today as the United States. The last Thursday in November is marked as a day of solemn remembrance for many Native Americans instead of celebration. So, this Thanksgiving, consider that this day may not be as sweet as your Grandma’s famous pumpkin pie.
Works Cited
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/thanksgiving-ideas/a33446829/thanksgiving-history/
