why do we celebrate the first thanksgiving

The first Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated as a day to give thanks for the harvest and to express gratitude in general. The holiday is often associated with an event that took place in 1621 when the English Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts shared a feast with the Wampanoag Indians, who were native to the land.

The Pilgrims had arrived in North America the previous year on the ship known as the Mayflower. Their first winter was devastating, and many of the colonists died due to the harsh conditions and lack of adequate food. The surviving Pilgrims finally succeeded in growing crops with the help of friendly local Native Americans, who taught them how to grow native plants like corn and squash and how to hunt and fish.

To celebrate their successful harvest, the Pilgrims organized a feast, which is now known as the "First Thanksgiving." It was attended by both Pilgrims and Native Americans and consisted of a three-day celebration that included food, games, and fellowship.

It's important to note that the event in 1621 wasn't called "Thanksgiving" at the time, and Thanksgiving as we know it wasn't established as an annual tradition until much later. The version of the 1621 feast that is shared today is often a simplified and somewhat mythic story that has evolved over the centuries