Thanksgiving is a time to surround yourself with family and friends. It’s always exciting to walk into your grandparents’ house and smell the fresh scent of turkey, mashed potatoes, and apple pie. For some, Thanksgiving could mean finally having a full good meal or getting to be with family you aren’t able to see often. On Nov. 24 1621, Thanksgiving meant something completely different.

In September 1620, a ship called the Mayflower traveled from England with one hundred and two passengers aboard. After sixty six days, they arrived at  the Hudson River. A month later the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay, where the pilgrims established their new home of Plymouth. Their first winter caused them to suffer many diseases, such as scurvy, and only half the original passengers were alive to see spring. They were greeted by the members of the Abenaki tribe and Patuxet tribe. The Native American tribes taught the pilgrims, who were weak and very malnourished, how to harvest corn and tree sap, as well as catch fish. The pilgrims were able to form alliances with other tribes, and in November 1621, their first harvest was a success. They celebrated for three days in what we  now consider the first Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving was first celebrated in the United States in 1789 thanks to President George Washington. In 1939, Roosevelt moved it up a week to encourage retail sales during the Great Depression. Thanksgiving is now celebrated the fourth Thursday of every November. 

So, what does Thanksgiving mean to you? Think about what it might mean to some of your classmates. What are you most thankful for this year for Thanksgiving? “Our families and friends,” Juniors Gabe Leese and Sam Mcleod said. “They have such positive impacts on our lives, and we wouldn’t be where we are now without them.” You’re family and the people you surround yourself with have some of the biggest impacts’ in your life weather good or bad. You should always cherish those who care about you.

“I’m thankful for my mom,” Junior Angelina Monet said. We all have something to be thankful for, even if at times it may not seem like it. Even if it’s something simple, like being thankful for your cat, like sophomore Mckenzie Dingman is. Really put some thought into it and think about what you have to be thankful for. When students were asked what they look forward to most, senior Andrew Ostin said, “My birthday, because it’s usually on Thanksgiving, and obviously the food. Especially watching football. Thanksgiving is honestly one of the best holidays.” Junior Dylan Wills said “It’s a pretty selfish answer, but food.” Now according to most students, everybody looks forward to the food aspect of the day. “Turkey and mashed potatoes all the way,” Dingman said. There was a food not so common with most: sweet potato pie. Monet says this is her favorite food. Everyone loves turkey and gravy, for some it could even be a vegetable such as green beans. 

There are also many things you could be doing to help others during Thanksgiving. Some families have a hard time during this holiday and it might be difficult for them to really enjoy it. You can donate canned foods to multiple churches in our area for example; St.George’s Episcopal Church. You can also donate to food banks, American Legion and Goodwill. If you are unsure of what items to purchase you can always make a check or cash donation. These organizations can use that money to go out and buy items they know people need.  

When thinking of Thanksgiving there are so many things to be grateful for and look forward to. Make sure to let your family know you’re thankful for them this Thanksgiving.