The Evolution of Thanksgiving: From Pilgrim Harvests to Modern-Day Feasts

Thanksgiving as a National Tradition

Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated holidays in the United States, but it didn’t always look the way it does today.

From a simple 17th-century harvest meal to a modern holiday filled with family, football, and food, Thanksgiving has evolved in profound ways. This article explores how Thanksgiving began, its transformation over time, and the traditions that make it so special today.

The First Thanksgiving: A Simple Harvest Feast (1621)

The first Thanksgiving was a modest three-day harvest celebration in 1621, held by the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The feast was shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people, who helped them survive their first winter. This event was not called "Thanksgiving" at the time but was a harvest gathering meant to celebrate survival and give thanks for the bountiful harvest.

The 1621 menu likely included wildfowl (such as ducks and geese), venison brought by the Wampanoag, seafood, and corn-based dishes. Other ingredients, like root vegetables, pumpkins, nuts, and berries, would have been present, though prepared very differently from today’s Thanksgiving staples. Unlike today’s celebration, this was a communal gathering focused on survival and gratitude, not a national holiday. There was no fixed date, no turkey centerpiece, no cranberry sauce, and certainly no pumpkin pie.

Thanksgiving Becomes a National Holiday (1863)

In 1863, amid the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. It was to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November, intended as a day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

This marked the beginning of Thanksgiving as a national holiday with patriotic and religious overtones. Families gathered for a meal to express gratitude, though the menu varied by region, often reflecting local foods rather than standardized “Thanksgiving dishes.”

The 20th Century: The Rise of Modern Traditions

By the early 20th century, turkey became the iconic Thanksgiving centerpiece, thanks in part to the abundance of domesticated turkeys and popular cookbooks promoting turkey recipes. The turkey’s affordability, size, and association with American abundance helped secure its spot as the main dish.

The 1920s and 1930s saw the standardization of Thanksgiving dishes, with foods like mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie becoming more common.

As the popularity of canned goods and frozen foods rose, so did the convenience of holiday cooking, making these dishes even more accessible.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, first held in New York City in 1924, became a huge cultural phenomenon. With elaborate floats, giant balloons, and marching bands, it became a holiday tradition, signaling the start of the Christmas season.

Football games on Thanksgiving became a tradition, starting in the 1930s, when the Detroit Lions hosted a Thanksgiving Day game. This tradition continues, with the NFL now hosting multiple games on Thanksgiving. The post-World War II era solidified Thanksgiving as a holiday centered around family gatherings, marking a time for long-distance family reunions and shared meals.

Post-World War II to Present: Modern Thanksgiving

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November, to create a longer holiday shopping season. This date has held ever since.

In recent decades, variations on the Thanksgiving meal have emerged. Deep-fried turkey became a popular Southern tradition, while “Tofurky” and other plant-based options now cater to vegetarians and vegans. Global fusion dishes have also made their way onto the Thanksgiving table as families incorporate their cultural heritage into the meal, reflecting America’s diversity.

In the 2000s, “Friendsgiving” emerged as a popular addition, where friends gather for a casual Thanksgiving meal either before or after the official holiday. This tradition resonates especially with young adults and those living far from family.

Turkey Trots—Thanksgiving morning races—are popular across the country, often benefitting local charities and volunteering has also become a Thanksgiving tradition, with many families and individuals spending part of their day serving meals to those in need.

Thanksgiving now kicks off a major shopping season. Black Friday and, more recently, Cyber Monday have become events almost as notable as Thanksgiving itself, marking the beginning of holiday gift-buying.

Unique Regional Thanksgiving Traditions in the U.S.

Maryland: Oyster stuffing is a Thanksgiving staple in the Chesapeake Bay area.

Southwest: New Mexico families often incorporate green chiles into stuffing, adding a spicy, Southwestern flair.

Hawaii: Thanksgiving tables might feature a Kalua-style turkey, reflecting the Hawaiian tradition of cooking pork in underground ovens.

Texas and Louisiana: Deep-fried turkey and Cajun-spiced turducken (a turkey stuffed with duck and chicken) have become Thanksgiving favorites in the South.

While the Macy’s Parade is the most famous, many cities have their own Thanksgiving parades, each with local flair, such as Chicago’s McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade or Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, one of the oldest in the country.

College and high school football rivalries on Thanksgiving weekend are popular, with longstanding rival games like the Texas vs. Texas A&M matchup (although now on hiatus) and the Michigan vs. Ohio State game.

Thanksgiving as a Reflection of American Culture

Conclude by highlighting how Thanksgiving has evolved from a simple harvest celebration into a uniquely American holiday with deep cultural significance. Thanksgiving today is about family, gratitude, tradition, and inclusivity, adapting to new generations while honoring the values of unity and thankfulness.

Thanksgiving remains a reflection of American diversity and creativity, with families adding new twists while preserving beloved traditions.

Whether celebrated with a traditional turkey or a unique regional dish, Thanksgiving brings people together in a shared spirit of gratitude—a sentiment that remains at the heart of the holiday.