What Thanksgiving Means to Many Americans

Thanksgiving in New England lore starts in 1621 with the Mayflower Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts and sharing a feast with Native People after having survived a deadly winter to thank them for their help and kindness.

Thanksgiving as a national holiday was proclaimed in 1789 but it wasn't until the 1863 Proclamation that Thanksgiving was annually commemorated on the last Thursday of November. In 1942, the fourth Thursday in November was established as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday and remains how we know it today. 

This year marks the 400th anniversary of what is known as the Pilgrim thanksgiving celebration of 1621. For most Americans, Thanksgiving is a way to come together as family and friends to express our gratitude for what we have and to celebrate the first formations of our country. It is also a time for those who have immigrated over the years to come together and celebrate their own beginnings in America. 

But the day itself is not celebrated by everyone – many Native peoples recognize it as a Day of Mourning. 

Why do Native Peoples have a Day of Mourning?

The November 25 event is held annually in Plymouth to honor Native peoples ancestors and to shed a light on the truth about Thanksgiving.

"As a holiday, Thanksgiving began in 1637 when it was proclaimed by governor John Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony to celebrate the safe return of the men who had gone to fight against the Pequot in Mystic, Conn. The fighting led to the enslavement and massacre of over 700 men, women, and children from the New England-based tribe, a bloody precursor to what would be centuries of strife for native peoples in the U.S.”
National Day of Mourning Reflects on Thanksgiving’s Horrific, Bloody History, Boston.com.

An annual tradition since 1970, the Day of Mourning (DOM) is a solemn, spiritual and highly political day. Many Native peoples fast from sundown the day before through the afternoon of that day (and have a social after Day of Mourning so that participants in DOM can break their fasts). The community mourns their ancestors and the genocide of their peoples and the theft of their lands. 

Can anyone attend the National Day of Mourning in Plymouth?

Yes, the event is open to the public. It is held at Cole's Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 12 noon. Cole's Hill is the hill above Plymouth Rock in the Plymouth historic waterfront area. Anyone interested in attending should read the National Day of Mourning Orientation Guide.

How can I recognize the National Day of Mourning?

It’s important to note that Native peoples do not have issues with Thanksgiving as a holiday. Their focus is on separating truth from myth – acknowledging the true story of Thanksgiving. The United American Indians of New England recommends recognizing the National Day of Mourning in the following ways if you can’t attend the event in Plymouth:

  • Attend the in-person event or watch the National Day of Mourning livestream from Plymouth.
  • Use Thanksgiving Day as a ‘teachable moment’ and educate family and friends. If you gather for a Thanksgiving meal, read aloud to your friends and family about the real history of Thanksgiving and National Day of Mourning before you sit down to eat. Wellesley College’s “The Myth of Thanksgiving and National Day of Mourning” provides a good overview of the history of Thanksgiving from the Native American perspective.
  • Help to spread the word about National Day of Mourning on social media.
  • Give the “hidden” story of Thanksgiving a human face by arranging for a member of UAINE to give a talk at a school, church, or community center near you. Email info@uaine.org for more information.
  • Help to champion Indigenous voices by getting involved in other Indigenous struggles. Check out the UAINE Facebook group and many other media outlets for information about what is happening in your area and what you can do to help.