On December 4th, 1619...

The Overlooked First Thanksgiving: A Colonial Celebration in 1619 🍂

When most of us think of Thanksgiving, we imagine the Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a feast at Plymouth Rock in 1621. However, a lesser-known yet significant Thanksgiving took place two years earlier in 1619 by a group of English colonists in Virginia. It’s time to dust off the history books and give this event its due recognition.

A Journey Across the Atlantic 🌊

In December 1619, 38 settlers from Berkeley Parish, England, arrived on the shores of what is now Virginia. After surviving a treacherous voyage across the Atlantic, the settlers were grateful for their safe arrival and declared a day of thanks, marking what some believe to be the first Thanksgiving in the New World.

A Day of Prayer, Not Pie 🥧

Unlike the lavish meals we enjoy today, the 1619 Thanksgiving was a solemn religious observance focused on prayer and gratitude. While there were no turkeys or cranberries, the settlers’ heartfelt thanks were the main course of the day.

Why the 1619 Celebration Was Forgotten 📜

The 1619 Thanksgiving didn’t make it into the history books largely because it lacked the narrative elements that caught the public's imagination, unlike the Pilgrims' 1621 feast that involved Native Americans and a bountiful harvest. Additionally, the 1619 celebration was overshadowed by subsequent events, including the rise of tobacco farming and the colony’s struggles.

The Legacy of Berkeley’s Thanksgiving 🎉

Despite being overshadowed, the Berkeley Hundred Thanksgiving holds an essential place in American history. It was a moment of gratitude and reflection that laid the groundwork for future celebrations of thanks. Next time you enjoy that pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce, remember those early settlers who gave thanks on a December day more than 400 years ago.

Did You Know? 🦃📚

• Date: December 4, 1619
• Location: Berkeley Hundred, Virginia
• Participants: 38 settlers from Berkeley Parish
• Significance: A day of prayer and thanks

Though often overshadowed by the more famous Plymouth celebration, the 1619 Berkeley Thanksgiving remains a foundational story of communal gratitude in the American narrative.