There are many misconceptions about the history of Thanksgiving. Eighth grader Luke Lofton thought that, “the Pilgrims in Plymouth had a feast to celebrate their survival,” while seventh grader Juni Kwon replied, “a long time ago, the Pilgrims just wanted to celebrate and eat.” Contrary to the popular belief, Thanksgiving wasn’t to celebrate the Pilgrim’s survival, and it wasn’t just to eat. It was actually to celebrate the first successful corn harvest.

In September 1620, a ship named the Mayflower left England to travel to the New World, America, carrying 102 religious passengers seeking a new home where they could freely practice their religion. One month later, they arrived in Massachusetts Bay, where the Pilgrims began the work of establishing a village at Plymouth.

Their first winter at Plymouth was brutal. Most colonists died from exposure, scurvy, and the outbreak of deadly diseases. Only half of the passengers survived to see their first spring. After the death of so many Pilgrims, the remaining group moved ashore. Several days later, a member of the Patuxet tribe, Squanto, greeted them. Squanto taught the pilgrims many important things like how to avoid poisonous plants and catch fish. He also helped the pilgrims create an alliance with the local tribe, the Wampanoag.

The next year in November 1621, the pilgrims’ first corn harvest was a success. The governor, William Bradford, decided to host a feast to celebrate. He invited a group of their native allies including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. The feast lasted three days. A pilgrim, Edward Winslow, wrote in his diary that the feast included deer and other dishes with Native American spices. Although cakes and pies are a staple for Thanksgiving now, there was sugar loss in the fall of 1621, so no cakes or pies were made.

In 1789, George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States. He called upon Americans to show their gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

New York became the first state to officially celebrate Thanksgiving in 1817. In 1827, a magazine editor and writer Sarah Josepha Hale launched a campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. For more than 30 years, she published many articles and letters to presidents, governors, and senators. Abraham Lincoln finally answered her request in 1863 when he scheduled Thanksgiving for the last Thursday of November. It was then celebrated until 1939, when president Franklin D. Roosevelt pushed Thanksgiving a week forward. In 1941, he signed a bill changing it back to the fourth Thursday.

Now, Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated with turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. But remember, Thanksgiving isn’t just about eating delicious food and getting off school, it’s about being thankful for all that you have and spending time with family and friends. Have a great Thanksgiving mustangs!