All American Almanac: Today in America
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September 21
On this day in 1621, the Pilgrims in the New England states joined with
the local indians to celebrate their first Thanksgiving Day. It all
began with Governor William Bradford invited some of the neighboring indians
to join the Pilgrims for a three-day feast. Celebrating the harvest
and blessings of the past year was the purpose of this event. There was
recreation and feasting in gratitude for the giving of a wonderful harvest
season. Thanksgiving, though, was not proclaimed a national holiday
until 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln.
By Lawanda Brewer
Student, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, 2001